On September 16, 2018 local time, the 11th Meeting of the China-Vietnam Steering Committee for Bilateral Cooperation was held in Ho Chi Minh City. State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi co-chaired the meeting with Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh of Vietnam.

Wang Yi expressed that the top leaders of the two Parties and the two countries have achieved historic mutual visits last year, and made top-level design as well as strategic plan for the coordinated advancement of China-Vietnam comprehensive strategic cooperation, charting the course for the development of China-Vietnam relations in the new era. Over the past year, the two countries have enjoyed stability and progress of bilateral relations, smooth operation of dialogue mechanism, fruitful achievements from practical cooperation, and further deepening of people-to-people and cultural exchanges as well as cooperation between border provinces. We should take the further implementation of the important outcomes from the mutual visits of the top leaders of the two Parties and the two countries as the mainline to strengthen guidance on various departments and various localities of the two countries, and jointly plan bilateral exchanges and cooperation in various fields, so as to promote China-Vietnam comprehensive strategic cooperation for new and greater development.

Wang Yi proposed four suggestions: first, the two countries should adhere to the strategic guidance of high-level exchanges, constantly build consensus, deepen mutual trust, and steadily hold the right direction of bilateral relations; second, the two countries should uphold the cooperation layout featuring mutual benefit and win-win results, advance infrastructure cooperation, the building of a cross-border economic cooperation zone and production capacity cooperation as soon as possible, and discuss new thoughts and new measures for cooperation, so as to promote mutually beneficial cooperation for sustainable development; third, the two countries should adhere to consolidating the public opinion foundation between the two sides, constantly expand channels, and do more practical things for the enhancement of the understanding and feelings between the two peoples; and fourth, the two countries should properly resolve contradictions and differences, and avoid actions that may undermine bilateral political mutual trust. Both sides should focus on the future, steadily promote maritime cooperation, earnestly translate the consensus reached by the top leaders of the two Parties and the two countries on maintaining maritime peace and stability into practical actions, and translate the common strategic interests of the two countries into the driving force that boosts practical cooperation.

Pham Binh Minh expressed that he totally agreed on Wang Yi's positive evaluation on bilateral relations as well as his suggestions and plans about the work in the next step. Pham Binh Minh said that since last meeting, Vietnam-China relations have maintained an overall positive momentum, with close high-level exchanges between the two Parties and the two countries, which plays an important role in consolidating traditional friendship, managing and controlling differences, and ensuring the sound and stable development of bilateral relations. Bilateral trade volume has reached a record high; bilateral cooperation in various fields has witnessed substantial progress; non-governmental exchanges and cooperation at the local level have been constantly expanded; and border and territorial issues have been generally and effectively managed and controlled.

Both sides agreed to constantly improve the operation of the Steering Committee mechanism, further enhance overall planning, and promote practical cooperation in various fields for more outcomes. Meanwhile, the two countries should, in line with the spirit of seeking truth from facts and the attitude of flexibility and practicality, solve specific issues in the cooperation process.

Member units and local representatives of both sides respectively reported the situation of cooperation in relevant areas and proposed suggestions to the meeting, and they carried out counterpart exchanges. Wang Yi expressed in the summarizing remarks that the most active way to manage and control maritime differences is to discuss joint development, and the best way to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the land border demarcation and the erection of boundary markers is to establish a cross-border economic cooperation zone at an early date.

After the meeting, both sides jointly attended the signing ceremony of the minutes.

Prior to the meeting, Wang Yi and Pham Binh Minh exchanged in-depth and candid views on issues of common concern.