Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong visited the Zhongguancun National Independent Innovation Achievements Exhibition Centre in China’s capital city of Beijing on Oct. 12.

The centre is home to almost 40 outstanding universities and over 200 national science research centres. It is expected to become an influential centre for technological innovation in the world.

The same day, at a reception for President of the China-Vietnam Friendship Association (CVFA) Wang Jinsha, Trong praised CVFA’s activities, along with the Vietnam-China Friendship Association, which contributed to developing relations between the two Parties, States and peoples.

Wang said that in recent years, CVFA has promoted friendship between the two peoples, engaged in humanitarian aid and promoting cooperation between the two Parties and countries, naming as examples the Vietnam-China People’s Friendship Festival, the Friendship Festival of people along Vietnam-China border, and the Vietnama-China Young People Friendship Festival.

Also on the occasion of Party General Secretary Trong’s visit, Minister of National Defence Gen. Phung Quang Thanh met with his Chinese counterpart Sen. Lieut. Gen. Liang Guanglie.

Thanh expressed satisfaction at the improving relations between the armies of the two countries, which have become a pillar of the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership between the two Parties and States.

Looking back the relations between the two armies since 2003, Gen. Thanh noted the signing of five documents to serve as legal foundation for national defence cooperation. Regular exchange activities have helped strengthen mutual trust between the two countries and maintain peace and stability in the region.

Regarding the existing disputes over the East Sea, Minister Thanh said that during the Party General Secretary Trong’s visit, the two sides signed an agreement on basic principles guiding the settlement of sea over. He said the two armies should actively implement the agreement to maintain peace and stability in the two countries’ relations as well as in the region.

Sen. Lieut. Gen. Liang shared the view that the armies should exercise restraint and caution in speech and action to avoid escalating the issue and uphold their role in maintaining friendship in the two countries’ relations.

As part of the visit, the same day, Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Thien Nhan received representatives of SANY Group and CMEC Group.

The same day, Minister of Transport Dinh La Thang met with his Chinese counterpart Li Shenglin and Deputy Minister of Public Security Dang Van Hieu met with the Chinese Minister of Public Security Meng Jianzhu./.