HCMC – Vietnam’s Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong today, December 12, held talks with General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and President of China Xi Jinping after the latter arrived in Hanoi earlier today for a two-day state visit.
General Secretary Trong emphasized the significance of General Secretary and President Xi’s third state visit to Vietnam, which coincides with the 15th anniversary of the establishment of the Comprehensive Strategic Cooperative Partnership (2008-2013) between the two countries.
This visit is a clear indication of the special sentiments of Xi towards the longstanding friendship and current bilateral relations with Vietnam, reported the news website of the Vietnamese Government.
Trong said that this visit marked a new historical milestone, elevating relations between the two Parties and two countries to new heights, meeting the common aspirations and interests of the people of both nations, and contributing to peace, cooperation and development in the region and the world.
He affirmed that Vietnam’s consistent foreign policy is independence, self-reliance, peace, friendship, cooperation, and development, as well as diversifying and multilateralizing foreign relations, along with the defense policy that adheres to the “Four No’s” principle. This principle means no military alliances, no siding with one country against another, no foreign military bases or no using Vietnamese territory against other countries, and no using force or threat of force in international relations.
He emphasized Vietnam’s active and comprehensive international integration, saying Vietnam is a reliable friend, partner, and responsible member in the international community.
Vietnam considers the development of relations with China as a top priority and a strategic choice, he noted, and expressed gratitude for the support of the Chinese people in Vietnam’s revolutionary cause and nation-building.
General Secretary and President Xi Jinping expressed joy in returning to Vietnam and thanks for the warm and friendly reception from the Party, State, and people of Vietnam.
He highly appreciated the achievements that Vietnam has made in nearly 40 years of reform, especially the significant and comprehensive results in implementing the resolutions of the 13th Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam.
He is confident that under the strong leadership of the Communist Party of Vietnam, headed by General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, Vietnam would surely achieve the major goals and tasks set by the 13th Congress.
The Chinese Party, Government, and people highly value the relationship with Vietnam, considering Vietnam a top priority in their neighboring foreign policy, the Chinese leader said, adding China supports Vietnam’s prosperous development and the happiness of its people.
On the issue of the seas, the two leaders had in-depth and sincere discussions, emphasizing the need for better control and positive resolution of maritime disputes, maintaining peace and stability in the East Sea and the region.
General Secretary Trong proposed that both sides effectively implement shared high-level perceptions, respect each other’s legal and justifiable interests, not complicate the situation further, and resolve disputes through peaceful means, in line with international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS 1982), implement the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC), which is known in Vietnam as East Sea, and promote a Code of Conduct (COC) in the East Sea which is consistent with UNCLOS 1982.
