Chinese Premier Li Qiang meets Vietnamese counterpart to promote cooperation
- Li and Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh discuss South China Sea disputes and development issues
- Chinh’s visit is the first by a Vietnamese prime minister to China in seven years
China and Vietnam should manage their South China Sea dispute through dialogue and promote cooperation, Chinese Premier Li Qiang told Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on Monday.
China is also willing to accelerate negotiations on a Code of Conduct for the South China Sea, Li said as he welcomed Chinh at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.
“[We] should avoid taking any actions that would complicate and escalate the situation,” Li said.
According to China’s state broadcaster CCTV, Chinh said that Vietnam would strengthen its coordination with China in multilateral organisations such as the United Nations.
Li and Chinh also oversaw the signing of several agreements, including one on maritime cooperation.
Chinh’s visit to China is the first by a Vietnamese prime minister in seven years. He is leading a high-level government delegation which will attend the World Economic Forum, the so-called Summer Davos, in Tianjin from Tuesday to Thursday.