Vietnamese State President Vo Van Thuong hosted a reception in Hanoi on Friday afternoon for Politburo member, Director of the Office of the Communist Party of China Central Committee's Commission for Foreign Affairs and Minister of Foreign Affairs Wang Yi, who is in Vietnam to attend the 15th session of the Vietnam - China Steering Committee for Bilateral Cooperation.

President Thuong sent his greetings to General Secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and President of China Xi Jinping and thanked the Chinese side for giving a warm welcome to President Thuong and a high-ranking Vietnamese delegation during their visit to China to attend the third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation in Beijing this October.

Both sides agreed that the relations between the two Parties and nations have maintained strong growth and achieved more accomplishments, following Vietnamese Party chief Nguyen Phu Trong’s visit to China in October last year.

Vietnamese State President Vo Van Thuong (R) shakes hands with Politburo member, Director of the Office of the Communist Party of China Central Committee's Commission for Foreign Affairs and Minister of Foreign Affairs Wang Yi during a reception for the latter in Hanoi, December 1, 2023. Photo: Nguyen Khanh / Tuoi Tre

President Thuong affirmed that Vietnam always considers the relationship with China a strategic choice and a top priority in its foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, multilateralization, and diversification of relations.

The Vietnamese state leader proposed that both nations continue to promote high-level exchanges and meetings and effectively implement cooperation activities.

Minister Wang said that China attaches great importance to friendly neighborliness and comprehensive cooperation with Vietnam and considers this a priority in China’s foreign policy.

As for the East Vietnam Sea issue, the top Vietnamese leader proposed both sides well implement high-level common perceptions, better control and settle disagreements at sea, put themselves in each other's position, and respect each other's legitimate and legal interests in line with international law and the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), and jointly develop the East Vietnam Sea into a sea of peace, friendship, cooperation, and development.

On the same day, Vietnamese Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son held talks with his Chinese counterpart Wang.

Vietnamese Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son receives his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi, Hanoi, December 1, 2023. Photo: Phong Son / Tuoi Tre

The two top diplomats agreed to further facilitate and make thorough preparations for upcoming high- and all-level exchanges and meetings.

Minister Son proposed China open its doors wider to Vietnamese commodities, including farm produce, develop more rail and road links with Vietnam, jointly seek measures to remove obstacles hindering projects involving both sides, and create favorable conditions for Vietnam to set up its trade promotion offices in Chinese localities.

The top Chinese diplomat suggested both sides strengthen strategic connectivity between the Belt and Road Initiative and the ‘Two Corridors, One Belt’ Initiative.

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