Premier Li Keqiang met with Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc in Manila, capital of the Philippines, on Nov 13.

Premier Li expressed his condolences over the recent typhoon in the central and southern regions of Vietnam.

China and Vietnam are good neighbors and important partners. The successful visit by President Xi Jinping to Vietnam promoted a sustainable and healthy development of the bilateral ties, and lifted them to a new level, the Premier said.

The two sides should speed up combining their development strategies, and dovetailing the Belt and Road Initiative with Vietnam’s Two Corridors and One Economic Circle plan, based on the principle of jointly advancing cooperation in maritime development, on land and in the financial sector.

He said the two countries should increase trade volume while maintaining inclusive and diversified development, to achieve win-win results.

China always puts ASEAN as a priority in neighboring diplomacy, said Premier Li, adding that China is willing to further increase ties with ASEAN countries, and build a higher level of China-ASEAN strategic partnership.

He hopes that all parties will send a positive signal in focusing regional cooperation and maintaining regional stability during a series of leaders’ meetings on East Asia cooperation.

China would like to continue negotiations with ASEAN countries on the Code of Conduct in South China Sea, and make South China Sea a symbol of peace, friendship and cooperation, he added.

Nguyen said brotherly friendship between China and Vietnam has made positive progress under the joint efforts of the two nations.

Vietnam hopes to continue to cultivate the friendship, increase the Vietnam-China comprehensive strategic partnership, combine development strategies, and enhance cooperation in industrial capacity, transportation facilities, cross-border economic cooperation zones, agriculture, finance and environmental protection.

Vietnam speaks highly of the consensus reached between China and ASEAN on the Code of Conduct in South China Sea, and would cooperate with China to promote maritime cooperation and maintain peace and stability in the South China Sea.