Vietnam’s Deputy Foreign Minister Le Hoai Trung (R) and his Chinese counterpart Kong Xuanyou. (Photo: MOFA)

The meeting was attended by Vietnam’s Deputy Foreign Minister Le Hoai Trung and his Chinese counterpart Kong Xuanyou.

The two sides shared views on the active development of the bilateral ties in 2017, as reflected through regular high-level exchanges and common perceptions on enhancing the friendship and comprehensive cooperation reached by senior Party leaders of the two countries.

The 10th meeting of the China-Vietnam Steering Committee for Bilateral Cooperation, which took place in Beijing in April 2017, has brought into full play its important role in coordinating cooperative sectors, they said, commenting on progresses made in cooperation via the Party channel, as well as collaboration in diplomacy, national defence and security.

China has remained Vietnam’s biggest trade partner and Vietnam has become China’s largest trade partner in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), they said.

They noted strides made in people-to-people exchange, mentioning the inauguration of the Vietnam-China Friendship Palace and the Chinese Cultural Centre in Hanoi.

The deputy ministers agreed to successfully implement high-level agreements and common perceptions, while maintaining visits and meetings between senior leaders of the two Parties and countries, aiming to consolidate political trust.

Apart from the organisation of the 11th meeting of the China-Vietnam Steering Committee for Bilateral Cooperation, they also talked about the realisation of mechanisms of exchange and cooperation between the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) and the Communist Party of China (CPC), the Vietnam National Assembly and the National People’s Congress of China, and the Vietnam Fatherland Front and the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference.

The two sides also looked into partnership in diplomacy, national defence and security, economy, trade, investment, tourism, science-technology, transport, agriculture and environment.

Another issue raised for discussion at the meeting is how to intensify the friendship, mutual trust and understanding between citizens of the two countries.

During his stay in Guangzhoung, Deputy Foreign Minister Trung met with Guangdong Province Governor Ma Xingrui and Guangdong Deputy Governor Ouyang Weimin.