Addressing the gathering, General Consul Nguyen Thi Nha affirmed that the Vietnamese Party, Government and people always bear in their mind and are deeply grateful for the great support and assistance they received from their Chinese counterparts for Vietnam's cause of national liberation and its ongoing construction and development.

Vietnam attaches great importance to developing comprehensive cooperation and friendship with China to promote mutually beneficial solidarity and trust between the two Parties, States and peoples.

Mrs Nha said she is happy with the continuous development of the friendship and cooperation between the two countries based on the motto of "Friendly neighbourliness, comprehensive cooperation, long-term stability, and future-oriented vision" and in the spirit of "good neighbours, good friends, good comrades and good partners."

Chief Representative of the China Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Hong Kong, Lu Xinhua, emphasized that the Vietnam-China friendship fostered by former generations is a valuable asset for the people of both countries.

In recent years, the comprehensive strategic partnership between Vietnam and China has grown strong and the 62^nd anniversary of their diplomatic relations offers the chance to promote mutual trust and understanding while working towards a new era in their bilateral relationship.

Earlier, in his speech at the celebration in Macau, Chief Representative of the China Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Macau, Hu Zheng Yao, said that the continuing development in the fine relationship between the two countries is in line with the fundamental interests of all parties involved.