China and Vietnam strengthen bilateral cooperation at China-ASEAN Expo

China stands ready to import more high-quality Vietnamese products that are suitable for the Chinese market, as well as explore the upgrading of border ports and accelerate the construction of smart ports to facilitate trade between the two countries, Premier Li Qiang said on Saturday.

The premier stressed Beijing's readiness to bolster a win-win cooperation with Hanoi while meeting with Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh in Nanning, Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region

Li called upon both sides to strengthen cooperation over rail connectivity and key minerals and jointlyforge a system of mutually beneficial, stable and unimpeded industry and supply chains.

The Vietnamese leader is in Nanning to attend the 20th China-ASEAN Expo and China-ASEAN Business and Investment Forum, which opens on Sunday.

Li told Chinh that China places its relations with Vietnam as a priority in its neighborhood diplomacy and is willing to work together with Vietnam to demonstrate mutual support,safeguardcommon strategic interests and promotingthe continuous advancement of bilateral relations.

He urged expanded exchanges and cooperation in youth, education, healthcare, and tourism to promote mutual understanding and friendship between the two peoples.

Both sides should adhere to dialogue and consultation to manage differences and work together firmly to uphold fairness and justice, Li said.

Chinh said Vietnam and China are comrades and brothers, and the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership between Hanoi and Beijing is Vietnam's earliest, highest-level, and most prioritized foreign relationship.

Vietnam's development of foreign relations will not harm the interests of third parties, and his country adheres to the one-China principle and supports China's development, he said.

The Vietnamese leader also appealed for heightened bilateral cooperation in agriculture, trade, finance, and culture, saying that the two sides should manage differences properly, closely coordinate multilateral cooperation, and elevate their ties to a new level.