China and Vietnam issued a joint statement on Friday before President Xi Jinping concluded his two-day visit to the country, where the two sides agree to push forward their comprehensive strategic partnership.

According to the statement, China and Vietnam have agreed to adhere to the guidelines of long-term stability, good-neighborly friendship, and comprehensive cooperation. They’ll also advance their partnership in a sustained, healthy, and steady way.

The two countries have also agreed to maintain the tradition of high-level exchanges and enhance communication and mutual trust.

The document said that consensus has been reached on expanding cooperation within the framework of China’s Belt and Road Initiative and Vietnam’s “Two Corridors and One Economic Circle” plan, and enhancing cooperation in infrastructure and production capacity. The two sides have also inked an agreement on studying the feasibility of a railway project connecting Hanoi, Lao Cai, and Hai Phong in northern Vietnam.

On bilateral trade, the communique sets a target of $100 billion by 2017, while with regard to maritime cooperation, it says that China and Vietnam have agreed to launch the inspection of waters outside the mouth of the Beibu Gulf in December, steadily promote negotiations on the demarcation of the waters there and actively foster joint development in the region.

Importantly, with regard to issues in the South China Sea, the two sides agreed to effectively implement the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea, and push forward efforts on an agreement on a code of conduct on the basis of negotiations.

The statement also calls for greater cooperation in the fields of technology, education, culture, and tourism.

CCTV NEWS Story.