Roundup: China, Vietnam to reap more fruitful cooperation

Bilateral relations between China and Vietnam have seen positive development in the year 2015, and are expected to reap more fruitful cooperation, with frequent high-ranking leaders' visits seen during the year.

FREQUENT HIGH-LEVEL EXCHANGES

In April 2015, General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Nguyen Phu Trong visited China at the invitation of General Secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and Chinese President Xi Jinping.

This was the first official visit made by a CPV General Secretary to China since the 18th CPC National Congress in late 2012.

In July, Chinese Vice Premier Zhang Gaoli paid a visit to Vietnam. During the talks, Zhang pledged to make joint efforts to boost comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership between the two nations.

Later in September, Vietnamese President Truong Tan Sang visited China to attend the Commemoration of the 70th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War.

In November, Xi paid a visit to Vietnam at the invitation of General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Nguyen Phu Trong and Vietnamese President Truong Tan Sang.

Xi's visit to Vietnam was the first by a top leader of the Communist Party of China and head of state in about a decade, crowning the frequent high-level contacts between the two sides in the past year.

In November in Hanoi, during talks with Trong at Xi's visit to the country, the two sides agreed to adhere to the guidelines of long-term stability, looking into the future, good-neighborly friendship and comprehensive cooperation, as well as the spirit of good neighbors, good friends, good comrades and good partners, and advance their partnership in a sustained, healthy and steady way.

In the talks, Xi put forward a seven-point proposal on developing relations between the two parties and the two nations.

He suggested the two sides strengthen political guidance to bilateral relations, maintain the tradition of high-level exchanges and enhance communication and mutual trust.

The Vietnamese side agrees with China on maintaining close exchanges at various levels.

After their talks, Xi witnessed with Trong the signing of a host of agreements on such subjects as party-to-party cooperation, infrastructure, economy, energy and culture, among others.

During their contacts, Chinese leaders also expressed welcome to Vietnam's participation in the "Belt and Road" initiative proposed by China.

During Xi's state visit in November, China and Vietnam reached an agreement on studying the feasibility of a railway program connecting Hanoi-Hai Phong-Lao Cai in northern Vietnam, according to a joint communique.

China and Vietnam have been in close contact on infrastructure cooperation projects and the deal can also be regarded as a model for win-win cooperation between the two countries as they have called for an alignment between China's "Belt and Road" initiative and Vietnam's "Two Corridors and One Economic Circle" plan.

In October and November 2015, a train prototype for the Cat Linh-Ha Dong urban elevated railway project in Hanoi was showcased to collect public feedback. The event was welcomed by thousands of citizens who flocked to see the train prototype and submitted their feedback as this is the first urban elevated railway route in Vietnam.

Vietnam has signed an agreement with China to buy 13 four-carriage trains from China's Beijing Subway Rolling Stock Equipment Company (BSRSE) for its Cat Linh-Ha Dong route in Hanoi.

CLOSER CULTURAL EXCHANGES

China and Vietnam have also maintained close relations in cultural exchanges. During the visit to Vietnam in November, Chinese President Xi said the two sides have agreed to promote people-to-people exchanges by enhancing exchanges and cooperation in culture, education and tourism, so as to create a harmonious atmosphere for bilateral relations.

"We welcome more Vietnamese friends to visit China, to study in China and to do business in China," said Xi, calling for more exchanges between the two peoples.

Nguyen Phu Trong, for his part, also called for more exchanges between youths of the two countries, hoping that the youths could become an important force in creating a bright future of China-Vietnam relations.

The number of student exchanges between the two countries has been growing. According to initial statistics, there are currently over 14,000 Vietnamese students studying in China, while some 3,000 to 4,000 Chinese students are sent to Vietnam each year.

PROPERLY HANDLING OF DISPUTES

At the meeting with Trong in Beijing in April, Xi proposed the two sides always bear in mind the overall situation of China-Vietnam friendship as well as their development, respect each other, consult with each other in a friendly way, seek common ground while shelving differences, and control their disputes to ensure that the bilateral relationship will develop in a right track.

The two leaders agreed on making joint efforts to control maritime disputes and safeguard peace and stability in the South China Sea.

Meanwhile, Chinese Vice Premier Zhang Gaoli said during talks with his Vietnamese counterpart Nguyen Xuan Phuc in July in Hanoi that the two sides should work hard to boost maritime cooperation, appropriately handle maritime disputes in line with consensus reached between party and state leaders of the two countries, seek common ground while putting aside differences, keep in mind the big picture of bilateral relationship and maintain peace and stability in the South China Sea on the basis of mutual respect and friendly consultation.

Zhang said the two sides should focus on joint development in the sea.

Vietnam will advance all-round practical cooperation, and appropriately handle disputes with China to promote the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership, Phuc said.

At the meeting with Vietnamese President Truong Tan Sang, who was in Beijing for the Commemoration of the 70th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War in September, Chinese President Xi Jinping said "We are in favor of properly handling disputes between both sides through dialogues, and expanding cooperation and common interests."

Later in Hanoi in November, Xi again urged the two sides to properly manage and control differences, safeguard stability at sea and focus more on cooperation.

China and Vietnam agreed to launch a joint survey mission on the waters outside the mouth of the Beibu Gulf in December, which is seen as the start for further maritime cooperation between the two countries, according to a joint communique released on Xi's visit. Endit