The Chinese Party, government and people always attach importance to ties with Vietnam, a Chinese senior Party official has said.

At his meeting with Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh in Beijing on Feb. 13, Zhou Yongkang, member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee (CPCCC), spoke highly of Minh’s first visit to China as foreign minister, adding that the visit will contribute to boosting the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership between the two countries.

Zhou, who is also Secretary of the CPCCC Politics and Law Commission, also expressed his pleasure at the development of the Vietnam-China traditional friendship, which has been nurtured by the two countries’ leaders.

The two countries’ relations have witnessed new advancements, especially after a visit to China by Vietnamese Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and a Vietnam visit by Chinese Vice President and member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of CPCCC, Xi Jinping, he added.

Zhou said he believed that the relations between the two Parties and States will develop more deeply, more practically and more effectively in conformity with the basic interests of the two peoples, benefiting peace, stability and development of the region and the world.

In his opinion, the two countries should continue to maintain visits and exchanges between their high-ranking leaders, strengthen mutual political trust and deepen their cooperation practically and effectively in all fields, satisfactorily dealing with existing issues to ensure the Vietnam-China relationship develops in a healthy and stable manner.

For his part FM Pham Binh Minh congratulated the Chinese people on their achievements in national construction and development, as well as during the process of building socialism with Chinese characteristics.

Minh expressed his belief that the upcoming 18th Congress of the Communist Party of China will be successful.

He also reiterated the Vietnamese Party and State’s consistent policies of developing ties with the Chinese Party and State, saying Vietnam wants to work together with the Chinese Party, government and people to deepen the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership between the two countries, in the spirit of common perceptions of the two Parties and countries’ leaders.

During his visit to China from Feb. 12, FM Minh was received by State Councilor Dai Bingguo.

Dai Bingguo affirmed that the two countries need to fully uphold the cooperative mechanisms of the Steering Committee for Vietnam-China Bilateral Cooperation and boost exchanges and cooperation in all fields, between branches, localities and at all levels.

The same day, FM Minh had a working session with Head of the International Liaison Department of the CPCCC Wang Jiarui, during which the two sides discussed measures to further promote relations between the two Parties.

On this occasion, FM Minh conveyed invitations to visit Vietnam from Vietnamese high-ranking leaders to their Chinese counterparts./.