Chinese language Premier Li Qiang, left, and Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh hug earlier than a gathering in Hanoi, Vietnam, on Oct. 13, 2024. | Picture credit score: AP
Vietnam and China have agreed to calm tensions of their dispute within the South China Sea, Vietnamese state media reported on Sunday, days after Hanoi accused Beijing of a “brutal” assault on its fishermen.
China is Vietnam’s largest buying and selling companion, however the two international locations share historic tensions, together with within the South China Sea, a waterway by which trillions of {dollars} of commerce cross every year.
For years, Beijing has sought to increase its presence in disputed areas of the ocean, ignoring a global ruling that its declare to many of the waterway has no authorized foundation.
Final week, Hanoi protested a “brutal” assault by Chinese language boats, during which it mentioned 10 Vietnamese fishermen had been crushed with iron bars and robbed of 1000’s of {dollars}’ price of fish and gear.
Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and Chinese language Premier Li Qiang “exchanged candid and frank views on maritime points” at a gathering in Hanoi, Vietnamese state media mentioned.
“They dedicated to adequately management variations… keep away from actions that complicate the scenario and collectively preserve stability at sea,” he mentioned. Bao Chinh Phu the newspaper mentioned.
The 2 international locations additionally signed 10 agreements on Sunday, together with increasing cross-border rail hyperlinks, funds and financial cooperation.
They agreed to work on a technical plan for a rail hyperlink between Lao Cai in northern Vietnam and Hekou in China’s Yunnan province.
In addition they signed a memorandum of understanding on implementing cross-border fee companies utilizing QR codes and an settlement to check a mannequin for an “financial cooperation zone” throughout their border.
Vietnam’s prime chief To Lam and Li agreed on Saturday to spice up financial and protection cooperation, Vietnamese state media reported.
Hanoi would facilitate higher Chinese language funding in excessive know-how in Vietnam and Beijing would strengthen market entry for Vietnamese agricultural merchandise, he mentioned. Nhan Dan the newspaper mentioned.
At Saturday’s assembly, Lam “urges either side to…higher handle and resolve variations” on maritime points, the newspaper mentioned.
Lam took over as secretary-general in early August following the dying of his predecessor, Nguyen Phu Trong.
He later met Chinese language President Xi Jinping in Beijing throughout his first journey overseas.
Revealed – October 14, 2024 05:32 am IST
