Party General Secretary Nong Duc Manh made the statement while receiving a delegation from the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) led by Sen. Lieut. Gen. Li Jinai, member of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Military Commission and Director of the General Political Department (GPD), in Hanoi on May 26. 

The Party leader welcomed the Chinese delegation’s visit, saying that it would help concretise and strengthen the comprehensive strategic cooperation partnership between Vietnam and China. 

2010 is an important and significant year for both countries as they mark the 60 th anniversary of establishment of their diplomatic ties and the year is defined by the two countries’ leaders as the Vietnam-China Friendship Year, he stressed. 

Mr Manh expressed the Vietnamese people’s gratitude to the Chinese neighbours for their support during the past struggle for national independence and in the current process of national construction. 

For his part, Sen. Lieut. Gen. Li Jinai affirmed that the Chinese Party and Government attach importance to developing the friendly neighbourhood and comprehensive cooperation with Vietnam. 

He expressed his delight at the fine development of bilateral ties, at both central and local levels, as well as the positive results of the military cooperation between the two countries over the years.

He thanked the Vietnamese Party, Government and people for aiding victims of natural disasters in China.