The two sides updated each other on their respective countries’ work on COVID-19 prevention and control as well as measures to prevent transmission from outside while resuming socio-economic activities after the outbreak. They stated how much they valued the mutual support and assistance in the fight against the pandemic.
The two sides noted that though a number of bilateral exchange and cooperation activities had been affected by the pandemic, the impacts were only temporary. They agreed that Vietnam-China relations have kept their development trend, as seen in high-level discussions in flexible forms, maintained trade and growth in the bilateral trade value. Ministries, agencies and localities of the two countries, including the foreign ministries and diplomatic representative agencies, have maintained regular exchanges on coordinating the pandemic fight and removing difficulties in order to strengthen cooperation, they said.
The two officials discussed specific measures to increase result-oriented cooperation and some major orientations including maintaining all-level exchanges and contacts in a flexible form, and maximising the overall coordinating role of the Steering Committee for Vietnam–China Bilateral Cooperation to enhance partnerships between various sectors and localities in different fields.
Deputy FM Trung asked the Chinese side to continue facilitating and coordinating with Vietnam to accelerate the customs clearance process for goods at land border gates. He suggested some specific measures such as designating border gates for the trade of fruit and food such as the Lao Cai-Hekou railway border gate, increasing the number of cargo trains specializing in transporting farm produce imported from Vietnam, and extending hours for customs clearance at border gates.
He also urged China to accelerate procedures to open its market to Vietnam’s farm produce and allow more Vietnamese companies to export milk and rice to China.
The two sides agreed to continue discussing their coordination in managing the land border and organizing activities to mark the 20th anniversary of the signing of the Vietnam-China Land Border Treaty and the 10th year since implementing the three key legal documents regarding the land border. They also agreed to conduct, at a suitable time, joint border inspections in accordance with the provisions of the Agreement on Vietnam - China land border and the Protocol on land border demarcation and marker plantation.
The two sides engaged in a sincere and candid discussion on the sea issue, reaching agreement on further making use of existing negotiation mechanisms for substantive outcomes. Deputy FM Trung voiced Vietnam’s concern about the recent complicated developments in the East Sea and its stance on the nation’s legitimate rights and interests in accordance with international law and the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea. He urged that the two sides promote cooperation and solve disputes in the spirit of respecting each other’s legitimate rights and interests, previous agreements, the common perceptions of both sides and international law.
