On October 27, 2020, Luo Zhaohui, Vice Foreign Minister and Senior Chinese Official on East Asia Cooperation, held a video meeting with Vietnam Deputy Foreign Minister and Senior Official of ASEAN Affairs Nguyen Kuo-dung to exchange views on the preparations for a series of East Asian Cooperation Leaders’ Meetings.

　　Luo Zhaohui said that China and Vietnam are friendly socialist neighbors.

This year marks the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Vietnam. The leaders of the two countries have maintained close communication through telephone calls and mutual letters to provide strategic guidance for the development of bilateral relations and regional cooperation.

China is willing to work with Vietnam to implement the important consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries and promote the stability and long-term development of bilateral relations.

　　Luo Zhaohui emphasized that the current century of change and the superposition of epidemics in the century are intertwined, the international and regional situation is complex and profound, and East Asia cooperation is at a critical period.

China supports Vietnam as the rotating chairman of ASEAN, and is willing to cooperate with Vietnam in hosting a series of East Asian Cooperation Leaders' Meetings, promote regional cooperation and release positive messages to the outside world: First, focus on cooperation and development, promote anti-epidemic cooperation, and resume work and production.

Promote the signing of the regional comprehensive economic partnership agreement as scheduled to help East Asia's economic recovery.

The second is to grasp the development direction of East Asian cooperation.

China supports ASEAN’s central position in East Asian cooperation, and supports mechanisms such as 10+1, 10+3, and the East Asia Summit to continue to adhere to the effective principles of accommodating the comfort of all parties and not introducing bilateral disputes into multilateral occasions.

Adhere to multilateralism, oppose unilateralism and bullying, and prevent the cold war mentality and zero-sum game dregs from emerging.

The third is to properly handle sensitive issues.

China is willing to work with ASEAN countries to eliminate external interference, continue to properly handle the South China Sea issue in accordance with the "dual track approach", fully and effectively implement the "Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea", maintain the momentum of consultations on the "Code of Conduct in the South China Sea", and jointly maintain regional peace and stability.

　　Nguyen Kuo-dong spoke highly of the positive progress made in the comprehensive strategic cooperation between Vietnam and China. He thanked China for supporting Vietnam in fulfilling its responsibilities as the ASEAN chairmanship. Unilateralism handles sensitive issues properly.

Vietnam is willing to play the role of the chairmanship, accumulate more results for the leaders' meeting, promote the smooth holding of the meeting in an atmosphere of friendly cooperation, and contribute to regional peace, stability, development and prosperity.

The Vietnamese side agrees to speed up the negotiation process of the "Guidelines" and safeguard the overall situation of ASEAN-China cooperation.