President To Lam reaffirms Vietnam – China close partnership
VOV.VN - Developing relations with China has always been a consistent policy, strategic choice, and top priority in Vietnam’s foreign policy, President To Lam told outgoing Chinese Ambassador Xiong Bo at a reception in Hanoi on July 17.
He noted bilateral relations between Vietnam and China have developed positively in recent times, and Ambassador Xiong personally has made a practical contribution to that development.
The President proposed that the two sides increase visit exchanges at all levels to strengthen political trust, further improve the quality and effectiveness of cooperation in all fields, and increase cooperation between localities as well as people-to-people exchanges, thereby consolidating and strengthening relations between the two countries.
Xiong for his part affirmed that China always considers relations with Vietnam a priority direction in its foreign policy, and it is ready to promote exchanges and cooperation in all fields with Vietnam.
In his view, the two countries boast great potential for stronger cooperation that will certainly be enhanced in the near future.
The diplomat vowed to do his best to actively contribute to friendly neighbourly relations between China and Vietnam no matter what position he will hold in future.
Both host and guest reviewed major milestones in Vietnam-China relations in the recent past, especially the historic visit to China by Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong in October 2022 and the State visit to Vietnam in December 2023 by Party General Secretary and president Xi Jinping.
During Xi’s Vietnam visit, the two countries released a joint statement on continuing to deepen and elevate the Comprehensive Strategic Cooperative Partnership and build a China-Vietnam community with a shared future that carries strategic significance.
Economic, trade and investment cooperation continues to be a bright spot in the two countries’ relations. Vietnam has risen to be China’s fifth largest trading partner.
The two sides also actively supported each other to overcome the COVID-19 pandemic. China was one of the countries providing the most vaccines to Vietnam.
Regarding maritime issues, the two sides agreed to seriously implement high-level agreements and common perceptions, better control and resolve disagreements, and not let the East Sea issue affect the overall relationship between the two countries.
