Premier Li urges China, Vietnam to maintain maritime stability

Premier Li Keqiang met with Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc in Beijing on Wednesday, with both sides agreeing that maritime stability and maritime cooperation were of utmost importance.

Li praised the China-Vietnam relationship for its frequent high-level exchanges and cooperation in maritime, land and financial affairs.

The two countries should enhance strategic communication, cement trust and maintain high-level exchanges, he said, urging that China's "Belt and Road" initiative should be aligned with Vietnam's "Two Corridors and One Economic Circle" plan, to boost industrialization and transformation of economic structure through capacity cooperation.

Li called on both sides to maintain maritime stability, strengthen maritime cooperation and cultural exchanges, and to encourage confidence in developing the China-Vietnam friendship.

A joint survey outside the bay mouth of Beibu Gulf should be launched as soon as possible, Li said, adding arrangements for the third China-Vietnam Youth Festival should be set in motion.

Phuc said healthy and stable ties with China were a Vietnam foreign policy priority.

Vietnam is ready to work with China to enhance high-level exchanges,trust and cooperation, and boost new progress of bilateral working groups on maritime, land and finance cooperation, he added.

Phuc said Vietnam expects to jointly safeguard maritime stability with China, and carry out maritime cooperation, in order to boost bilateral all-round strategic cooperative partnership.

Phuc is visiting China from Tuesday to Thursday. He will also attend the 12th China-ASEAN Expo to be held in Nanning in southwest China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. Endi