Vietnam-China diplomatic ties marked

The event was attended by Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Fu Ying, and Assistant to the Director of the International Liaison Commission of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee Zhang Yan Yi, alongside 400 representatives from the Vietnamese Embassy, agencies and overseas Vietnamese in China.

Speaking at the dinner, Vietnamese Ambassador Nguyen Van Tho affirmed that Vietnam and China share cultural similarities and are on a path to socialism under the leadership of the Communist Parties.

Both countries are at a key stage of their renewal cause, so Vietnam and China need a peaceful and stable international environment for national development to improve people’s lives, he said. It is an important foundation for Vietnam and China to further develop their friendship and comprehensive co-operation, he added.

According to Tho, the Vietnamese Government and people will always be grateful to the Chinese Party, State and people for their valuable and effective support during Vietnam’s struggle for national liberation and reunification in the past, as well as socialist construction today.

Vietnam values its developing relations with China , it is a priority in Vietnam’s foreign policy, he affirmed.

The ambassador said that although complicated regional and world developments impacted each country in 2012, the Vietnam-China relationship progressed in politics, economics, culture, education and training, and defence and security.

China is Vietnam’s largest trade partner for the eighth consecutive year, with two-way trade exceeding US$41 billion in 2012. Agreements reached during meetings between the two countries’ leaders, especially those between President Truong Tan Sang and President Hu Jintao, and between CPC General Secretary Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung, will strengthen political trust and the strategic co-operation partnership between Vietnam and China.

Tho said that with effort from both sides, the partnership will continue developing so that the two countries will really become “good neighbours, good comrades, good friends and good partners” as agreed by their high-ranking leaders.

In her speech, Fu said the Vietnam-China relationship has seen stable developments over the last year. The two countries’ leaders have had a great number of talks to deepen strategic co-operation.

The 18th Congress of the Communist Party of China affirmed that China will pursue a policy of friendly relations with its neighbours and deepen its mutually beneficial co-operation with them, she added.

China values its developing ties with Vietnam and wants to join its neighbour’s efforts to foster bilateral ties, she affirmed.