Wang Yi, the foreign minister of China, and Bui Thanh Son, the foreign minister of Vietnam, agreed on Friday that their countries would work together to keep the seas calm and peaceful.
Wang, who is also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, told Bui Thanh Son in a meeting in Hanoi that China and Vietnam should work together on the sea to benefit both countries, keep outside forces from getting involved, speed up talks on the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea, and make the South China Sea a place where people work together and live in peace.
The Chinese foreign minister said that the most important things about ties between China and Vietnam are shared values and a bright future.
He said that close high-level exchanges and regular contacts between the two parties and countries, like visiting relatives, show how special and high-level relations between China and Vietnam are.
Wang said that China and Vietnam share the same social system and the same values and beliefs. He also said that defining a new position and setting new goals for the relationship will not only help the two countries grow, but it will also help bring about peace and progress for all people.
Wang stressed that the foreign affairs departments of both countries should work together with other departments and local governments to carry out the strategic agreement that the leaders of the two parties came to.
He also said that this would improve communication between the parties and the sharing of governance experience, and it would start a new era of practical cooperation in many areas.
He said that China and Vietnam should work together and help each other to defend international justice and fairness in the international and multilateral arenas.
Bui Thanh Son said that Vietnam wants to encourage the two parties and the two countries to have healthy, safe, and long-lasting relationships that will grow to new heights.
He said that the foreign ministries of the two countries could work together closely, do a good job of coordinating and promoting cooperation in many areas, improve high-level and low-level exchanges, and work together more in areas like agriculture, connectivity, high science and technology, tourism, and more.
According to what both countries agree on at a high level, Vietnam is ready to work more closely with China on international and regional issues and to keep peace and security at sea. The foreign minister of Vietnam stated this.