The 20th China-ASEAN (Association of South East Asian Nations) Expo opened on September 16 in Nanning, the capital city of the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, in southern China. Some 2,000 enterprises participated.
With a high-level political attendance, speeches were made at the opening ceremony by Chinese Premier Li Qiang, Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, Laotian Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet (who had concluded an official visit to China, his first bilateral visit since assuming office, just the previous day), Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, and Thai Deputy Prime Minister and Commerce Minister Phumtan Wechayachai.
Among the bilateral meetings held by Premier Li Qiang were those with his counterparts from China’s two socialist neighbours, Vietnam and Laos.
Meeting his Vietnamese counterpart, Li Qiang said that China and Vietnam are friendly socialist neighbours and the two countries are working to build a community with a shared future with strategic significance, adding that under the guidance of the top leaders of two parties, the relations between the two parties and countries have maintained a sound momentum of development.
Li emphasised that China regards relations with Vietnam as a priority in its neighbourhood diplomacy, and will work with Vietnam to implement the important consensus reached by the top leaders of the two parties, strengthen high-level guidance, support each other, safeguard common strategic interests and bring bilateral relations to a new level.
Noting that Vietnam and China are comrades and brothers, and the Vietnam-China comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership is Vietnam’s earliest and most valued foreign relationship at the highest level, Pham Minh Chinh said it has always been the objective requirement, top priority and strategic choice of Vietnam’s foreign relations to continuously deepen the relations between the two parties and the two countries. The development of Vietnam’s foreign relations will not harm the interests of any third party, he added.
Meeting his Laotian counterpart, Premier Li said that the China-Laos community with a shared future has been continuously advanced, adding that China has always viewed relations with Laos from a strategic perspective.
China is ready to work with Laos to implement the important consensus reached by the top leaders of the two parties and countries, strengthen the synergy of development strategies, deepen cooperation in various fields, and share opportunities and jointly promote development, to deliver benefits to the two peoples and contribute to regional peace.
China supports Laos in assuming the rotating presidency of ASEAN next year.
For his part, Sonexay Siphandone said that Laos is willing to strengthen exchanges of experience in party and state governance, promote pragmatic cooperation in such fields as the Belt and Road, economy, trade, investment and people-to-people exchanges, strengthen coordination and cooperation in international and regional affairs, jointly safeguard strategic interests, and promote the upgrading of China-Laos community with a shared future.
We reprint below reports on these two meetings. They were originally carried by the Xinhua News Agency.
Chinese premier meets Vietnamese PM in Nanning
NANNING, Sept. 16 (Xinhua) — Chinese Premier Li Qiang met with Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on Saturday in Nanning, the capital of south China’s Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, pledging to bring bilateral ties to a new level.
Noting that China and Vietnam are friendly socialist neighbors and the two countries are working to build a community with a shared future with strategic significance, Li said that under the guidance of the top leaders of two parties, the relations between the two parties and countries have maintained a sound momentum of development.
Li said China regards relations with Vietnam as a priority in its neighborhood diplomacy, and will work with Vietnam to implement the important consensus reached by the top leaders of the two parties, strengthen high-level guidance, support each other, safeguard common strategic interests and bring bilateral relations to a new level.
Li pointed out that China is willing to expand mutually beneficial cooperation with Vietnam and import more marketable quality Vietnamese products, explore port opening and upgrading, accelerate the construction of smart ports to provide more convenience for bilateral trade, and strengthen cooperation on railway connectivity, key minerals and other fields to jointly build a mutually beneficial, stable and unimpeded industrial chain and supply chain system.
He also said China wishes to expand exchanges and cooperation on youth, education, medical tourism and other fields to promote mutual understanding and amity between the two peoples.
The two sides should stay committed to managing their differences through dialogue and consultation, and work hand in hand to uphold fairness and justice, said Li.
Pham Minh Chinh is in China attending the 20th China-ASEAN Expo.
Noting that Vietnam and China are comrades and brothers, and the Vietnam-China comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership is Vietnam’s earliest and most valued foreign relationship at the highest level, Pham Minh Chinh said it has always been the objective requirement, top priority and strategic choice of Vietnam’s foreign relations to continuously deepen the relations between the two parties and the two countries. The development of Vietnam’s foreign relations will not harm the interests of any third party, he added.
Pham Minh Chinh said Vietnam adheres to the one-China principle and supports China’s development.
Vietnam is ready to implement the important consensus reached by the top leaders of the two parties, further enhance political mutual trust, strengthen the synergy between the Two corridors and One Economic Circle and the Belt and Road Initiative, deepen cooperation on agriculture, economy, trade, finance and people-to-people exchanges, he said.
He also expressed the wish to properly manage differences and enhance multilateral coordination and cooperation to upgrade the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership of comrades and brothers to a new level, adding that Vietnam is willing to be the vanguard of ASEAN-China cooperation and promote the steady and sound development of ASEAN-China relations.
Chinese premier calls for sharing opportunities, common development with Laos
NANNING, Sept. 16 (Xinhua) — Chinese Premier Li Qiang on Saturday met with Laotian Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone in Nanning, the capital of south China’s Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region.
Noting China-Laos community with a shared future has been continuously advanced, Li said China has always viewed relations with Laos from a strategic perspective.
China is ready to work with Laos to implement the important consensus reached by top leaders of the two parties and countries, strengthen the synergy of development strategies, deepen cooperation in various fields, and share opportunities and jointly promote development, to deliver benefits to the two peoples and contribute to regional peace and stability, said Li.
Li said China is willing to continue to work with Laos to jointly build the Belt and Road with high quality and promote the continuous upgrading of China-Laos cooperation.
He also urged the two sides to give fuller play to the role of China-Laos railway in promoting the development of the two countries. China is willing to strengthen cooperation in various fields and import more quality products from Laos, Li said, adding the two sides should strengthen cultural and people-to-people exchanges to promote mutual understanding and amity between the two peoples.
China supports Laos in assuming the rotating presidency of ASEAN next year, and stands ready to work with Laos to advance the building of the “Five homelands” and the China-ASEAN community of a shared future, said the premier.
For his part, Sonexay Siphandone said Laos thanked China for its strong support for Laos’ economic and social development and spoke highly of the fruitful results of bilateral cooperation. Laos firmly abides by the one-China principle and firmly supports China in safeguarding its core interests.
He added Laos is willing to strengthen exchanges of experience in party and state governance, promote pragmatic cooperation in such fields as the Belt and Road, economy, trade, investment and people-to-people exchanges, strengthen coordination and cooperation in international and regional affairs, jointly safeguard strategic interests, and promote the upgrading of China-Laos community with a shared future.
