Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Vietnam's Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son convened in Kuala Lumpur on Thursday, signaling renewed commitment to bilateral cooperation amid regional diplomatic engagements. The meeting occurred during a series of ASEAN-related foreign ministers' gatherings from July 10-11, where Wang is representing China.
Discussions focused on economic collaboration, with Wang emphasizing China's willingness to 'deepen strategic connectivity' through infrastructure projects and digital economy initiatives. Bui highlighted Vietnam's interest in agricultural exports and technology transfers, particularly in renewable energy sectors.
The dialogue addressed regional stability in the South China Sea, with both ministers reaffirming the importance of maintaining maritime peace through dialogue. This comes as ASEAN members work to finalize a code of conduct for the strategic waterway.
Analysts note the timing holds significance for business communities, as China remains Vietnam's largest trading partner with bilateral trade reaching $230 billion in 2022. The talks also touched on cross-border supply chain optimization – a key concern for multinational corporations operating in both markets.
