Vietnamese Premier Pham meets China’s Xi in Beijing

By Riyaz ul Khaliq

ISTANBUL (AA) – China’s President Xi Jinping on Wednesday hosted Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh in Beijing, expressing readiness to "pursue modernization together."

“China and Vietnam have maintained rapid economic development and long-term social stability, showcasing the advantages of the socialist system,” Xi told Pham, who is on a working visit to China until Thursday. The Vietnamese leader also attended the 15th annual meeting of the New Champions in Dalian, China’s northeastern Liaoning province, also known as Summer Davos.

Xi showed readiness “to work with Vietnam to build a China-Vietnam community with a shared future and pursue modernization together,” according to Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying.

He said China had always regarded Vietnam as a priority in its "neighborhood diplomacy," supporting it in pursuing a "socialist path that suits its national conditions."

Pham, who also met Chinese Premier Li Qiang on Monday, said Vietnam supports Beijing's position on Taiwan and "firmly adheres to the one-China principle."

"Vietnam prioritizes deepening strategic mutual trust and pragmatic cooperation with China and building a strategically significant community with a shared future. This is Vietnam's top priority and strategic choice in its foreign policy, and it will not be swayed by external provocations or disruptions," said the Vietnamese prime minister in comments released to Chinese state media.

At the World Economic Forum meeting on Tuesday, he said China will continue to play a "crucial role" in the global economy, particularly in advancing digital, green transformations, circular economy and bolstering international economic integration and cooperation.

“We strongly encourage China's continued commitment to working with the international community to vigorously champion multilateralism, bolster international solidarity and cooperation, and safeguard a peaceful, stable, and cooperative environment for prosperous development in the region and the entire world,” he added.

This year’s theme for the forum is Next Frontiers for Growth. The three-day event from June 25-27 is expected to draw some 1,600 business leaders and officials.​​​​​​​