On January 23, 2008, the second meeting of the Guiding Committee for China-Vietnam Bilateral Cooperation was held in Diaoyutai State Guesthouse. State Councilor Tang Jiaxuan, chairman of the Chinese side, and Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Gia Khiem, chairman of the Vietnamese side, co-chaired the meeting. Both sides exchanged in-depth views on the bilateral relations and reached important consensuses.

Tang noted that under the guidance of the principle of ""long-term stability, future orientation, good-neighborly friendship and all-around cooperation" the exchanges and cooperation between China and Vietnam move forward steadily. He pointed out that to strengthen the good-neighborly friendship, deepen the pragmatic cooperation and realize mutual benefit and win-win outcome serve the strategic interest of both countries and the fundamental interest of their people and thus are the common aspiration of the two peoples. Looking at the bilateral relations from a strategic and long-term perspective, China expects to join hands with Vietnam to move such relations in the right direction, properly handle the problems of bilateral relations and promote the healthy and stable growth of bilateral ties.

Pham said that Vietnam and China enjoy sound bilateral relations and it is a priority of Vietnam's foreign policy to develop the long-term friendly and cooperative relations between the two communist parties and the two countries. The Vietnamese side is committed to strengthening the friendship between the two peoples and pushing forward the bilateral cooperation in various fields comprehensively.

The two sides reached the following consensuses on further developing the bilateral relations and cooperation in various fields: first, to increase political mutual trust, keep the frequent contacts of senior leaders of both countries, exchange ideas on expanding and deepening the bilateral ties and handle the problems of bilateral relations in a timely manner; second, to broaden economic and trade cooperation, promote trade of bulk commodities, carry out cooperation on large projects and make careful studies on the specific cooperation programs of "two corridors and one ring" ; third, to enhance cooperation in the security and non-traditional security areas such as combating cross-border crimes and terrorism; fourth, to promote cultural exchanges and broaden cooperation in such fields as culture and education, science and technology, tourism and press; fifth, to reinforce cooperation in multilateral fields and coordinate position on major international and regional issues in a timely manner; sixth, to properly handle the problems of bilateral relations such as the South China Sea dispute and ensure the stable and healthy progress of bilateral relations on the sound track.

Pham noted that the Vietnamese party and government follow the one-China policy resolutely, hold the position that Taiwan is an inalienable part of the Chinese territory, support the reunification undertaking of the Chinese people and firmly oppose any form of splittist activity seeking "Taiwan independence" including the "referendum on UN membership", to which Tang expressed appreciation.

The meeting of the Guiding Committee for China-Vietnam Bilateral Cooperation is held annually in principle. China and Vietnam hold the meeting in turn. The first meeting was held in Hanoi, Vietnam in November 2006.