Photo:fmprc.gov

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with Vietnamese Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son in South China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region on Thursday, calling for the proper managing differences, accelerating maritime cooperation and consultations on the Code of Conduct (COC) in the South China Sea to resolve conflict, and warning to be vigilant against engaging in camp confrontation and "small cliques" to undermine regional peace and stability.

China-Vietnam relations have enjoyed rapid development last year since the top leaders of the two parties jointly announced the building of a China-Vietnam community with a shared future that carries strategic significance, giving a new meaning to the line "so profound is the friendship between Vietnam and China, because we are both comrades and brothers," Wang said. 

The Chinese side called on enhancing high-level strategic communication, accelerating the development of strategic alignment, and continuously expanding cooperation with Vietnam in areas such as economic affairs and trade investment, the digital economy, green development, new energy, and critical minerals. 

The two sides should also jointly safeguard international fairness and justice, practice true multilateralism, and continue to support each other on issues of major interest to both sides. 

They should properly manage differences, accelerate maritime cooperation and consultations on the Code of Conduct (COC) in the South China Sea to resolve conflict, Wang said. 

Photo:fmprc.gov

 
The meeting took place as the Philippines continued making provocations on the South China Sea issue under the instigation of the US. Reuters reported that defense forces of the US, Japan, Australia and the Philippines will conduct "maritime cooperative activity" on Sunday.

The Vietnamese diplomat said that Vietnam adheres to the one-China policy, firmly supports China's position on matters related to Taiwan, Xinjiang, and Xizang, and opposes the use of human rights and democracy to interfere in the internal affairs of other countries. 

Vietnam will strengthen multilateral coordination with China to protect common interests, and is willing to implement the consensus of the high-level leadership of the two countries, properly manage differences, actively promote maritime cooperation and consultations on the COC in the South China Sea, and maintain peace and stability in the South China Sea, Bui Thanh Son said. 

Global Times