China on Friday pledged to boost cooperation and enhance bilateral relations with Vietnam and Singapore as Chinese Premier Li Keqiang met with leaders of the two countries respectively on the sidelines of the meetings on East Asian cooperation in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.

When meeting Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, Li said as friendly neighbors and comprehensive strategic cooperative partners, China and Vietnam share extensive common interests, with broad prospects for the development of bilateral relations.

Noting General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee Nguyen Phu Trong's recent visit to China, Li said China attaches great importance to developing its relations with Vietnam.

China stands ready to maintain high-level exchanges with Vietnam, consolidate political mutual trust, enhance exchanges and mutual learning, implement the consensus between the two sides and push for steady and sound development of the China-Vietnam comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership, Li said.

The two countries enjoy a solid foundation of cooperation, economic complementarities and a high level of industrial integration, Li said, adding that the two sides should seize the opportunity of common development, deepen cooperation in infrastructure construction and other areas, and continue to promote bilateral trade for win-win results.

Noting that China has been improving its COVID-19 prevention and control as the situation evolves, Li said China is willing to improve customs clearance and gradually increase direct flights between China and Vietnam to facilitate people-to-people exchanges and make it easier for Vietnamese students to travel to China and resume studies.

China is ready to work with Vietnam and other ASEAN countries to deepen their comprehensive strategic partnership, help boost economic and social development of regional countries and improve the well-being of the people in the countries, actively advance maritime cooperation, complete the consultations on the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea at an early date, jointly safeguard peace and stability in the South China Sea, and send a signal of stability and development in the region to the world, Li said.

For his part, the Vietnamese prime minister thanked the Chinese side for its friendly reception for Nguyen Phu Trong's visit. He said that developing relations with China is always the top priority in the country's foreign policy and Vietnam supports China in playing a bigger role on the international stage.

Vietnam is ready to maintain high-level exchanges and exchanges at various levels with China, and strengthen cooperation in fields including economy and trade, investment, logistics, digital economy, green economy and marine economy, he said.

The country is willing to deepen communication and coordination on international and regional affairs with China, properly manage differences, and promote the development of relations between the two parties and two countries, he added.

China ready to elevate cooperation with Singapore

During talks with Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong on Friday, Li noted that China and Singapore are close neighbors whose bilateral cooperation has been expanding, deepening and producing fruitful results.

China is ready for closer high-level exchanges and interactions at various levels with Singapore, to deepen practical cooperation in priority areas and elevate the bilateral cooperation, he said.

Li pointed out that Singapore is an important source of foreign investment for China, and bilateral trade is expected to achieve a new breakthrough.

He expressed hope the two sides would conclude at an early date the follow-up negotiations on upgrading the China-Singapore free trade agreement, work together for an earnest implementation of the plan for building the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor, make good progress in the Tianjin Eco-City, create flagship projects in bilateral cooperation, earnestly keep the industrial and supply chains safe and smooth, and uphold peace and stability in the region and beyond.

China is optimizing its COVID-19 response in light of the new situation, he said, adding that China is ready to increase direct flights between the two countries to better facilitate personnel exchange and make active efforts to facilitate the return of Singaporean students to China for their studies.

Li emphasized China's readiness to work with Singapore and other ASEAN countries to further enhance mutual trust, advance economic integration in the region and promote sustained and steady growth of China-ASEAN relations.

For his part, Lee said that despite major changes in the regional and international situations, the friendship and cooperation between Singapore and China remain unchanged.

Faced with the new circumstances, Singapore will work with China to make good use of bilateral cooperation platforms, work more closely on free trade, digital economy, green development and other fields, and make new contributions to stability and development in the region and the world, Lee said.

Singapore welcomes China's application to join the Digital Economy Partnership Agreement and supports China in joining the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership, he said.

(With input with Xinhua)