(VOVWORLD) - Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc and a high-ranking delegation from Vietnam arrived in Beijing on Thursday for the second Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation. The trip, made at the invitation of Chinese Party leader and President Xi Jinping, manifests Vietnam’s active international integration and its appreciation of initiatives to promote regional economic cooperation including the “Belt and Road” initiative which is based on the principle of cooperation for peace, equality, mutual benefit, and respect in line with international law and the UN Charter.
The Belt and Road Initiative was instigated by Chinese President Xi Jinping during his visit to Central Asia in 2013. It covers five areas of cooperation including policy connectivity, infrastructure connectivity, trade and investment connectivity, finance-monetary connectivity, and human connectivity. So far 150 countries and international organizations have signed cooperative agreements under the Belt and Road Initiative.
The Belt and Road Forum, the highest-level cooperation forum of the initiative, was first held in Beijing in May, 2017. This year's BRF, taking place from Friday to Saturday has the theme “Belt and Road Cooperation: Shaping a Brighter Shared Future”.
Active participation in cooperation mechanism
Pursuing multi-lateralization and diversification of international relations, Vietnam has participated in several cooperative mechanisms of the UN, APEC, ASEM, ASEAN, and the Mekong region. Vietnam has also participated in the formation of new generation trade agreements including the Comprehensive and Progressive Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement, the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement, and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership.
Vietnam praises initiatives that promote regional economic cooperation and connectivity including the Belt and Road Initiative on the principle of ensuring peace, equality, mutual benefit, mutual respect, and compliance with international law and the UN Charter toward the development and prosperity of all nations. During the State visit to Vietnam in November of 2017, Chinese Party leader and President Xi Jinping, the two countries signed a government-level MOU on boosting the “Two belts, one corridor” framework and China’s “Belt and Road Initiative.” The two countries are developing a joint plan to realize the MOU.
At the second BRF, Prime Minister Phuc is scheduled to attend the opening ceremony and the roundtable summit with other State and government leaders.
Strengthening Vietnam-China ties
Prime Minister Phuc’s trip takes place amid stable development of bilateral ties. The Prime Minister will discuss with Chinese leaders ways to promote the Vietnam-China Comprehensive Strategic Cooperative Partnership and increase cooperation in economics, trade, and investment. The Prime Minister will also meet Chinese business leaders, the Vietnamese Embassy staff, and Vietnamese living in China. The trip is expected to further promote sustainable Vietnam-China ties and create opportunities for Vietnam to expand its markets.