CHINA TO INCREASE FARM IMPORTS FROM VIETNAM

Vietnam and China hold a bilateral meeting in Hanoi on April 14 – PHOTO: VNA

HCMC — General Secretary of the Communist Party of China and President of China Xi Jinping said on Monday that China is willing to boost the import of Vietnamese agricultural products and support high-quality Chinese investment in Vietnam.

Xi made the remarks during his meeting with Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh in Hanoi on April 14, as part of his April 14-15 state visit to Vietnam on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

China proposed stepping up cultural and tourism exchanges under the Year of China-Vietnam Humanistic Exchange and launching “Red Tourism” routes. Xi also called for enhanced cooperation in education, healthcare, and multilateral frameworks.

Chinh highly valued Xi’s visit, calling it the most important high-level diplomatic event between the two countries this year. He noted that Xi is the first Chinese leader to visit Vietnam four times in his current role.

Chinh urged both countries to build stronger political trust and institutionalize regular meetings between top leaders. He called for closer cooperation in defense and security and mutual support in international forums.

On the economic front, Vietnam proposed prioritizing railway connectivity, including the Lao Cai–Hanoi–Haiphong line, with construction slated to begin in 2025. Other proposed routes include Dong Dang–Hanoi and Mong Cai–Halong–Haiphong.

Chinh also called for advancing talks on official development assistance (ODA) loans, boosting technology transfer, and training human resources. He urged China to facilitate greater access for Vietnamese exports, particularly agricultural goods.

Vietnam proposed expanding cooperation in science, technology, digital transformation, and finance, and called for symbolic joint projects in Vietnam.

On maritime issues, Chinh stressed the need to manage differences based on international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), and to maintain peace and stability in the region.

Source: The Saigon Times