Vietnam says it will not side against China, as US’ Kamala Harris visits

Name: In Singapore, US VP Harris talks about South China Sea, US exit from Afghanistan and Covid-19
Uploaded: 2021-08-25T03:45:07.000Z
Duration: 3 min 28 s
Description: In Singapore, US VP Harris talks about South China Sea, US exit from Afghanistan and Covid-19

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh reassures Chinese envoy before he meets US vice-president during her Asian tour

But Pham says negotiations for a code of conduct on the disputed South China Sea should be stepped up via the Asean bloc

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Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh (right) meets Xiong Bo, the Chinese ambassador to Vietnam, on Tuesday. Photo: China Embassy in Vietnam

Mimi Lau

Published: 11:45am, 25 Aug 2021Updated: 11:09pm, 25 Aug 2021

Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh told China his country would not enter an alliance to confront Beijing, before he met US Vice-President Kamala Harris on Wednesday.

In a meeting on Tuesday with Xiong Bo, the Chinese envoy to Hanoi, Pham said Vietnam had always maintained an independent foreign policy that prioritised self-reliance, multilateralism and diversification of ties, the Vietnam News Agency reported.

Pham said Vietnam would not ally with one country to fight another, and wished to enhance political trust with China, promote exchange and uphold cooperation.

He also said the two nations should join the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) in stepping up the slow-moving negotiations for a code of conduct on the disputed South China Sea.

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In Singapore, US VP Harris talks about South China Sea, US exit from Afghanistan and Covid-19

“The two sides need to strive to maintain peace and stability, satisfactorily settle disagreements at sea in the spirit of high-level common perceptions,” Pham was quoted as saying.