On March 19, 2009, the third meeting of the China-Vietnam steering committee on cooperation was held in Hanoi, Vietnam. It was co-chaired by Chinese State Councilor Dai Bingguo and Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Pham Gia Khiem as the committee chairmen of the Chinese and Vietnamese sides respectively.

During the meeting, Dai said the Communist Party of China and the Chinese government have always attached great importance to developing good-neighborly friendship and comprehensive cooperation with Vietnam and looked at and dealt with bilateral ties from a strategic and long-term perspective. The China-Vietnam steering committee on cooperation is an important mechanism to make overall plans for and coordinate bilateral cooperation in all areas. Dai said that China and Vietnam have made major new developments in friendly cooperation since the second meeting of the steering committee last year. Fruitful results have been scored in the following six aspects. First, cooperation in the political field has been deepened continuously. Second, the quality and level of economic and trade cooperation has been improved steadily. Third, both sides have successfully completed the work of land border demarcation and erecting border markers. Fourth, the mechanism for cooperation between government departments has been continuously improved and cooperation in the areas of agriculture, science, education and culture has been expanding. Fifth, the local cooperation mechanism is under smooth operation. Sixth, both sides have conducted sound cooperation in multilateral areas. Dai emphasized that the outcomes in these six aspects, which are in the common strategic interest of both countries, have enriched bilateral comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership and brought tangible benefits to both peoples.

Khiem said it has always been a priority of Vietnam's foreign policy to develop friendly and cooperative relations with China. Both sides have achieved positive outcome in bilateral cooperation in all areas and the dynamic cooperation between localities and government departments has become a highlight of bilateral relations. Vietnam will closely cooperate with China to push their comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership to a new stage, Khiem said.

Both sides reached consensus in the following five aspects on developing bilateral relations and cooperation in all fields in the next stage. First, maintain high-level visits and build political trust. China and Vietnam agreed to jointly launch the "China-Vietnam Friendship Year" in 2010 to mark the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between the two countries. The two sides believed that bilateral ties between China and Vietnam will be further enhanced through the year of friendship. Second, join hands to cope with the global financial crisis and achieve mutual benefits and a win-win situation. Both sides should give full play to the role of the existing economic and trade cooperation mechanism and step up efforts to discuss and implement the Five-Year Plan for the Development of China-Vietnam Trade and Economic Cooperation. The two sides should actively advance cooperation in the two economic corridors and the pan-Beibu Bay economic circle and push forward cooperation in key areas to explore new trade growth points. Third, properly handle border issues and maintain peace and stability in the border areas. Fourth, expand cooperation on agriculture, culture, education, science, technology and sports and strengthen cooperation between border provinces to complement each other with their respective advantages. Both sides should also carry out youth exchange programs of diverse forms. Fifth, keep closer cooperation in multilateral areas and safeguard common interests.

In the face of the financial crisis, China is ready to join hands with Vietnam to overcome the difficulties based on the principle of "long-term stability, future orientation, good-neighborly friendship and all-round cooperation" and the spirit of “good neighbors, good friends, good comrades and good partners”, Dai said. He urged both sides to enhance cooperation to push forward China-Vietnam comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership.

Also present at the meeting were responsible officials from the Chinese ministries of foreign affairs, national defence, pubic security, state security, commerce and finance, the International Department of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, the State Development and Reform Commission, the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region and Yunnan Province, as well as Vietnamese responsible officials from relevant departments of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV), the government and localities.