Vietnam’s Consulate General in Hong Kong and Macau and the Commissioner's Office of China's Foreign Ministry in Hong Kong held a meeting on January 16 to mark the 65 th anniversary of Vietnam – China diplomatic ties (January 18, 1950 - 2015).

Addressing the event, Hoang Chi Trung, Vietnamese Consul General to Hong Kong and Macau, highlighted the two nations’ traditional neighbourliness and friendship which were nurtured by Presidents Ho Chi Minh and Mao Zedong and leaders of both countries and inherited and cultivated by generations of Vietnamese and Chinese people.

The Vietnamese government, Party and people always bear in mind the great support of China during her past struggles for national independence and the current construction cause, he added.

He said while the two countries still have differences regarding the East Sea issue, which is a complicated matter left by history, he believed that the two countries will soon figure out an appropriate long-term solution to the issue based on the common perceptions reached by their leaders and with the determination and efforts of both sides.

Tong Xiaoling, Deputy Commissioner of the Commissioner's Office of China's Foreign Ministry in Hong Kong, underlined the commitment of developing China-Vietnam relationship in the motto of “friendly neighbourliness, comprehensive cooperation, long-term stability and looking towards the future,” and in the spirit of “good neighbours, good friends, good comrades and good partners”.

She reiterated that Vietnam is an important neighbour of China and China attaches great importance to developing the ties with Vietnam.

China will continue to work with Vietnam for a stronger strategic cooperation and for more progress in bilateral ties, she said.

The official pledged that her agency will continue helping the Vietnam General Consulate in Hong Kong and Macau to fulfil its mission as well as joining hands to enhance the overall relations between China and Vietnam in general and the cooperation between Hong Kong and Vietnam in particular.

In 2014, two-way trade between Vietnam and China was estimated at 58.5 billion USD, up 16 percent against the previous year. Vietnam was the second biggest trade partner of China in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), while China remained Vietnam’s 9th largest investor with a total registered capital of 7.9 billion USD.-VNA