Highlights of China-Vietnam joint statement on elevating ties

China and Vietnam on Wednesday issued a joint statement on further deepening and elevating their comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership and building a China-Vietnam community with a shared future that carries strategic significance.

The statement was issued during a two-day state visit to Vietnam by Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and Chinese president.

Here are some highlights of the statement.

Vietnam supports building community with shared future for mankind, China-proposed initiatives

Vietnam supports the building of a community with a shared future for mankind, the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative and the Global Civilization Initiative, according to the joint statement.

These proposals and initiatives are aimed at safeguarding the common interests of humanity and committed to promoting peace, justice and the cause of progress for people of the world, reflecting the aspiration of people from all countries to build a better world, said the statement.

China and Vietnam agree that the development of relations among countries should conform to the UN Charter, international law and basic norms governing international relations, it said.

Countries should uphold mutual respect, equality, mutual benefit and win-win cooperation, respect each other's sovereignty and territorial integrity, and resolve differences through peaceful means, the statement added.

China reiterates support for Vietnam's prosperity, development

China reiterated its support for Vietnam's prosperity and development as well as its people's well-being, according to the joint statement.

China supports Vietnam in building a strong and independent economic system and promoting the cause of "Doi Moi" (renewal), industrialization and modernization in a coordinated manner, it said.

China also supports Vietnam in reaching full international integration and developing extensive and friendly foreign relations, so that it can play a more important role in regional and world peace, stability, development and prosperity, said the statement.

China, Vietnam to step up high-level contacts

China and Vietnam agree to continue stepping up high-level contacts between the two parties and two countries through various forms, such as exchange of visits and letters, sending of special envoys, setting up of hotlines, and holding of annual gatherings and meetings on multilateral occasions, according to the joint statement.

The two sides also agree to conduct timely strategic communication on major issues of bilateral relations and international and regional situations of common concern and provide strategic guidance for sound and stable development of relations between the two parties and two countries in the new era, said the statement.

China, Vietnam to strengthen defense cooperation

China and Vietnam agree to promote high-level exchanges between the militaries of both countries and make good use of channels such as border defense friendly exchanges, defense and security consultations and defense ministry hotlines, according to the joint statement.

Both sides will further strengthen cooperation in the defense industries, joint exercises and training, military medical and health services, UN peacekeeping and non-traditional security fields, it said.

The two sides will also continue to deepen border defense cooperation, continue to carry out joint patrols in the Beibu Gulf and mutual visits of warships, and deepen cooperation and exchange mechanisms between their navies and coast guards, said the statement.

China, Vietnam to strengthen security cooperation

China and Vietnam agree to strengthen cooperation in traditional and non-traditional security fields, according to the joint statement.

Both sides will enhance cooperation in fighting terrorism and telecom network fraud as well as in entry and exit control, immigration, illegal entry and exit, and hunt for fugitives, it said.

The two countries will also strengthen intelligence exchanges as well as experience sharing and cooperation in fighting external intervention and secession attempts, guarding against reactionary and hostile forces' attempts of "peaceful evolution," "color revolution" and separatist activities.

Both sides also agree to strengthen cooperation in combating violations of religious and foreign NGO management laws, said the statement.

China, Vietnam agree to expand bilateral trade

In the statement, China and Vietnam agree to take concrete measures to expand bilateral trade in a balanced and sustainable manner.

The two countries will give full play to the role of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) and the China-ASEAN free-trade zone, and enhance cooperation on the platforms of the China International Import Expo, the China-ASEAN Expo, the China Import and Export Fair to expand exports of each other's competitive products, according to the joint statement.

China will actively promote the access procedures for Vietnamese agricultural products including fresh coconuts, frozen fruit products, oranges, avocados and other fresh fruits, medicinal plants and meat products, while Vietnam will actively promote the import of Chinese sturgeon.

Vietnam supports China's accession to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership on the basis of meeting standards and procedures. The two sides will work together to implement the RCEP and promote regional economic connectivity, said the statement.

China, Vietnam to participate in building global clean energy partnership

China and Vietnam agree to actively participate in the building of the Global Clean Energy Cooperation Partnership, according to the joint statement.

The two sides agree to deepen cooperation in areas such as biodiversity conservation, climate change mitigation and new energy vehicles, it said.

China welcomes Vietnam's participation in activities related to the Belt and Road Initiative International Green Development Coalition, the statement added.

China supports establishment of consulate general of Vietnam in Chongqing

China supports Vietnam in establishing a consulate general in southwest China's Chongqing Municipality, according to the joint statement.

Vietnam supports China in building a cultural center in Vietnam, and China welcomes Vietnam's establishment of a cultural center in China, said the statement.

China, Vietnam agree to seek lasting resolution of maritime disputes

China and Vietnam have reached agreements on seeking a lasting resolution of maritime disputes, according to the joint statement.

During the two-day state visit, leaders of China and Vietnam held an in-depth and candid exchange of views on maritime issues, with both sides stressing the need to better manage and actively resolve maritime disputes, so as to safeguard peace and stability in the South China Sea and the region at large, according to the statement.

The statement said that both sides agree to continue abiding by the important consensus reached by the leaders of the two parties and two countries, which is to persist in friendly consultations, strengthen the government-level border negotiation delegations and their subsidiary working groups, and actively seek a basic and long-term resolution that is mutually acceptable and conforms to the agreement on the basic principles guiding the settlement of sea-related matters between China and Vietnam as well as the international law, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

Both sides agree to actively promote consultations on joint maritime development and negotiations on the delimitation of sea areas beyond the mouth of the Beibu Gulf, aiming to achieve substantive progress in these two areas at an early date, said the statement.

The two sides agree to continue the comprehensive and effective implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea and conclude a substantive and effective Code of Conduct in the South China Sea based on consensus through consultation, which is in line with the international law, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, read the statement.

They also agree to refrain from actions that could complicate the situation or escalate disputes, jointly maintaining maritime stability.

(With input from Xinhua)

(Cover: National flags of China and Vietnam. /CFP)