DPM Minh meets with Chinese FM

Deputy PM, FM Pham Binh Minh on Friday met with Chinese FM Wang Yi on the sidelines of the 47th ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting and related meetings in Myanmar.

Deputy PM, FM Pham Binh Minh urgesChina to actively beef up COC talks for practical progress - Photo: VNA

On behalf of the Vietnamese Party, State and Government, Deputy PM, FM Minh expressed his sympathy to Chinese people over the consequences of the earthquake that struck Yunnan province recently.

He stressed that Viet Nam attaches importance to the relations with China. However, the bilateral ties have been affected by East Sea tensions caused by China’s illegal placement of Haiyang Shiyou – 981 in Viet Nam’s exclusive economic zone and continental shelf. China’s move violated Viet Nam’s sovereignty, sovereign right and jurisdiction.

Deputy PM, FM reiterated Viet Nam’s consistent stance over maritime issues.

Both sides need to work together to maintain peace and stability in the East Sea, effectively control divergences, take no action to complicate the situation and avoid the recurrence of the recent incident, said Deputy PM, FM Minh.

Both sides also needs to settle divergences in the East Sea through peaceful measures based on serious observation of international law, the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC) as well as the two countries’ common awareness enshrined in the Agreement on basic principles guiding the settlement of sea-related issues.

Deputy PM Minh emphasized the necessity to strictly comply with the DOC and called for early conclusion of a Code of Conduct (COC), citing the complicated situation in the East Sea.

He urged China to actively beef up COC talks for practical progress, affirming Viet Nam always attaches importance to the talks in a constructive spirit and tries its best to strengthen cooperation and mutual understanding between ASEAN and China for peace, stability and prosperity in the region.

The top Chinese diplomat thanked Viet Nam for conveying the sympathy to China over the grave earthquake.

He said the two neighbors should foster cooperation and satisfactorily settle hard matters, including the East Sea issue.

(Source: VGP)