Zhang Dejiang shakes hands with workers at the construction site (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) – Zhang Dejiang, Chairman of the Standing Committee of the Chinese National People’s Congress, visited the construction site of the Vietnam-China Friendship Palace in Hanoi on November 10 as part of his official visit to the Southeast Asian nation.
The building of the friendship palace, initiated by then Prime Ministers Phan Van Khai and Wen Jiabao in 2004, officially started on March 4, 2015. It is scheduled to be put into use in 2017.
Don Tuan Phong, Vice Chairman and Secretary General of the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organisations – the project’s investor, thanked the two countries’ Parties, States, parliaments, Governments, relevant ministries and authorities, and the Chinese Embassy for creating favourable conditions for the construction.
He asked the project’s contractor, China’s Yunnan provincial construction holding group, to continue working closely with the project’s management board to ensure work progress as well as the safety and quality of the building.
Phong said the palace will be a venue for cultural and people-to-people exchanges between the countries. He believed that activities held there will help them enhance mutual understanding so as to further treasure their amity – a precious common asset of the two peoples.
Meanwhile, Zhang, who is also a member of China’s Politburo Standing Committee, said the palace construction itself is a symbol of the bilateral friendship, adding that the two Parties and States pay great attention to this project.
He also told the Chinese contractor to ensure the project’s quality and schedule while asking for Vietnam’s close coordination and best possible conditions for the building.
The Vietnam-China Friendship Palace, located at No.188 Le Quang Dao street in Hanoi, covers 3.3ha with facilities built on over 13,900 square metres, including a 1,500-seat grand hall.
On November 9 evening, Politburo member and President of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Central Committee Nguyen Thien Nhan hosted a banquet in honour of Zhang Dejiang. The event was also attended by Vice Chairman of the Vietnamese National Assembly Phung Quoc Hien, Vice Chairman of the Chinese National People’s Congress Wang Chen and other officials of the two countries.-VNA
