China and Vietnam agree to boost all-round strategic partnership

World
Europe

China and Vietnam agreed on Thursday to maintain the momentum of positive development of bilateral ties, promote cooperation in various fields and upgrade their all-round strategic partnership to a new stage.

The agreement came during talks between Chinese President Xi Jinping and Vietnamese President Tran Dai Quang, who is on a state visit to China and will attend the upcoming Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation on Sunday and Monday in Beijing.

Vietnamese President Tran Dai Quang (far L) and Chinese President Xi Jinping (far R) attend a signing ceremony at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China May 11, 2017. /Reuters Photo

Xi stressed that the two sides should maintain high-level exchanges and communicate timely on issues of mutual concerns.

The two countries should promote cooperation in various fields including infrastructure construction, investment and trade, said Xi, adding that China and Vietnam should expand people-to-people and cultural exchanges to enhance the mutual understanding and friendship between the two peoples.

Speaking about the upcoming Forum, Xi pointed out that it will help build consensus among participating countries and deepen international cooperation.

Chinese President Xi Jinping speaks during a meeting with Vietnam's President Tran Dai Quang at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China May 11, 2017. /Reuters Photo

Xi also recalled his meeting with Quang last November on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Economic Leaders' Meeting in Lima, Peru, in which they reached an important consensus on deepening bilateral all-round strategic cooperation.

Quang congratulated China's development achievements in recent years.

This is Quang's first visit to China since he took office in April 2016.

The presidents also presided over a signing ceremony for five deals between the two countries, including trade and technology cooperation and a loan for a subway project in the Vietnamese capital Hanoi.

Before the talks, Xi held a welcome ceremony for the visiting Vietnamese president at the Great Hall of the People.

Vietnamese President Tran Dai Quang speaks during a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China May 11, 2017. /Reuters Photo

China has been Vietnam's biggest trade partner for the past 13 years, while Vietnam has become China's largest trade partner among the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) bloc.

Two-way trade between Beijing and Hanoi reached 87.8 billion US dollars in the first 11 months of 2016, an increase of 1.6 percent year-on-year, according to Xinhua News Agency.

Altogether, 29 heads of state and government leaders will attend the upcoming forum, which marks the highest-profile international meeting on the Belt and Road Initiative since it was proposed by China in 2013.

1km