China is willing to improve cooperation with Vietnam on research and development and production of COVID-19 vaccines, said Premier Li Keqiang during a phone call with Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh Friday.

Premier Li added that China will continue to provide assistance and support to Vietnam in its fight against the pandemic, and noted that it is hoped that the Southeast Asian country will facilitate vaccination of Chinese citizens within its borders.

Given the COVID-19 pandemic and the challenges brought by the instability of the world economy, an improved mutually beneficial cooperation between both countries can help promote economic stability and recovery in East Asia, Li said. 

The Chinese premier said China is also ready to work with Vietnam to improve the synergy between the Belt and Road Initiative and Vietnam's Two Corridors and One Economic Circle plan, boost the building of cross-border economic cooperation zones and maintain stable industry chains and supply chains. 

China is also willing to make concerted efforts with relevant countries, Vietnam included, to put the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) into effect at an early date and benefit the people of the region, said Li.  

Li also said it is hoped the two countries can improve political trust, deepen pragmatic cooperation and lift the China-Vietnam comprehensive strategic partnership of cooperation to new heights. 

Vietnam is ready to further boost its ties with China, deepen cooperation on fields like trade and investment, infrastructure and connectivity, and make the bilateral relationship grow healthily and steadily, said Chinh. 

Maintaining and developing the China-Vietnam comprehensive strategic partnership of cooperation is the top priority of Vietnam's diplomacy, said the Vietnamese prime minister.  

Li and Chinh agreed to deal with maritime issues in accordance with the consensus both sides have reached and safeguard peace and stability in the South China Sea.