China and Vietnam should work together to advance their respective paths toward socialist modernization and open new avenues of bilateral relations, Beijing's Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Tuesday.

Speaking at the 17th meeting of the China-Vietnam Steering Committee for Bilateral Cooperation in Hanoi, co-chaired by Wang and Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister Bui Thanh Son, Wang said the two countries should jointly contribute to greater unity and self-reliance among Global South countries and to peace and stability in the region and beyond.

He noted that the steering committee has played an indispensable coordinating role in advancing practical cooperation across various sectors between the two countries.

Looking ahead, he said both sides should further elevate strategic mutual trust by maintaining high-level exchanges and making full use of channels including party-to-party ties, government departments, legislative bodies and local authorities, while supporting each other on issues concerning core interests.

He called for expanding the scope of security cooperation by deepening collaboration in areas such as counterterrorism, combating telecom fraud, and national defense and security.

Wang also urged broader practical cooperation, including promoting railway connectivity and enhancing collaboration in agriculture, electricity, finance, key minerals and scientific and technological innovation, while jointly safeguarding the multilateral trading system.

He highlighted the importance of sustaining vibrant people-to-people exchanges and strengthening cooperation in media, publishing, broadcasting and film.

The two sides should also better manage differences by advancing maritime cooperation and striving for an early conclusion of a code of conduct in the South China Sea, Wang said.

He added that China and Vietnam should deepen multilateral coordination and jointly uphold the role of the United Nations, contributing to a more just and equitable global governance system.

For his part, Son said Vietnam consistently regards relations with China as a top priority and a strategic choice in its foreign policy.

He reaffirmed Vietnam's firm adherence to the one-China policy and opposition to any form of "Taiwan independence" separatist activities.

Son added that Vietnam agrees with China's proposals for future cooperation and will work to further deepen and solidify bilateral ties.