A delegation from the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference led by its Chairman Yu Zhengsheng is paying a working visit to Vietnam from December 25-27.

On December 26, the top Chinese political advisor was received by Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong who spoke highly of the significance of the visit for the relationship of the two Parties and the two countries.

He congratulated the Chinese people on their achievements during the reform process, affirming the Vietnamese leaders and people’s consistent respect for the two countries’ neighbourliness, time-honoured friendship and comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership.

The Vietnamese Party chief stressed the importance of enhancing political trust, increasing experience sharing and delegation and people-to-people exchanges, and stepping up coordination between the two Parties, for the interest of both peoples, the region and the world.

For issues to which differences still exist, the two countries should respect each other and exchange views sincerely to address the matters satisfactorily in order to keep the bilateral ties fine and stable, he added.

Yu Zhengsheng, in turn, confirmed that the Chinese Party, State and people always attach importance to the traditional friendship and comprehensive collaboration with Vietnam and will do their utmost to further the ties.

He agreed to increase the exchange of high-level delegations between the two Parties and countries and further cooperation in various areas, including politics, economy, culture, education and science-technology.

Receiving Chairman Yu, President Truong Tan Sang described the visit, which takes place when the two countries are preparing for a celebration marking the 65 th anniversary of their diplomatic ties, as a vivid manifestation of the Vietnam-China comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership.

He affirmed that the Vietnamese Party, State and people always respect and remember China ’s great support and assistance, especially during their struggle for national liberation.

He said he wishes the two sides will continue maintaining regular meetings between their high-ranking leaders as well as increasing exchanges and cooperation between their ministries, agencies, localities and mass organisations.

They should foster collaboration in not only economy and trade but also culture, education-training, science-technology and tourism while intensifying supervisions on the implementation of agreements reached by high-ranking leaders.

Both sides need to boost positive and sincere negotiations for the satisfactory settlement of sea-related issues, he added.

For his part, Chairman Yu confirmed that the inheritance and promotion of the friendship initiated by predecessors is a strategic selection of the two Parties for the long-term interests of the two peoples.

The Chinese side is actively implementing cooperation agreements with Vietnam, he said, expressing his wish to enhance political trust, expand collaboration in all aspects, strengthen people-to-people friendship, work together to solve differences in a satisfactory manner, and continuously consolidate and develop the bilateral friendship and comprehensive cooperation.

At a reception for the Chinese guest, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung reiterated that the traditional friendship between Vietnam and China , fostered by late President Ho Chi Minh and late President Mao Zedong together with generations of the two countries’ leaders, is a valuable asset of the two nations.

He asserted that the Vietnamese Party, Government and people always esteem and wish to join their Chinese counterparts’ efforts to consolidate and further develop the traditional friendship and comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership between the two countries, contributing to peace, stability and prosperity in the region and the world at large.

According to the PM, despite numerous difficulties facing the bilateral ties over the past time, with joint efforts by both sides, the relationship between the two Parties and two countries has been gradually restored and become stable.

He noted with pleasure that high-ranking Vietnamese and Chinese leaders have showed their desire to reinforce political trust and boost exchanges and mutually beneficial cooperation between the two Parties and the two countries in line with the aspirations and interests of their people.

PM Dung suggested the two sides further expand and deepen their win-win collaboration in all fields while increasing high-level visits, actively implementing reached agreements, promptly deploying two working groups on infrastructure and monetary cooperation, and promoting economic-trade, investment and tourism affiliation.

Regarding the maritime issues, he urged both sides to well control the situation, avoid the emergence of new complicated problems that harm the relationship.

He stressed the need to boost sea-related negotiation mechanisms, particularly the deployment of a working group on the waters off the mouth of the Tonkin Gulf.

Border and territorial disputes between the two nations should be solved in the spirit of sincere cooperation, frank negotiation and mutual respect, he said, adding that the two countries need to seek solutions that are acceptable to both on the basis of basic principles guiding the settlement of sea-related issues reached by their high-ranking leaders.

Sharing views with PM Dung, Yu suggested boosting practical cooperation in all fields, especially joint efforts to stabilise the maritime situation.

Earlier, the Chinese delegation held talks with President of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Central Committee Nguyen Thien Nhan, during which the two sides discussed ortienations and measures to further the healthy and stable development of bilateral ties in the time to come.-VNA