Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung received outgoing Chinese and Myanmar Ambassadors Sun Guoxiang and Khin Maung Soe, respectively, at separate receptions on July 11.
PM Dung highlighted Ambassador Sun Guoxiang’s contributions to enhancing the bilateral relationship, especially in economics, trade, investment, tourism and education and training, which, he said, has mutually benefited both sides.
The Vietnamese Party and State attach special importance to long-term strategic cooperative partnership with China and want to continue effective cooperation to tap both sides’ potential for development, said the PM. He said he hoped both sides would soon make a bilateral five-year development cooperation plan and hold a meeting of the steering committee to enhance bilateral relations. The Prime Minister proposed both sides continue to settle sea issues, particularly issues where differences remain, to peacefully negotiate and discuss to seek basic long-term solutions that are acceptable by both sides. This is also a practical work contributing to peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region and the world, he said. Ambassador Sun Guoxiang said that during his term of office, bilateral trade increased from 20 billion USD in 2009 to 30 billion USD in 2010 and more than 2,000 Chinese businesses had invested in Vietnam. He said he was actively involved in the negotiations to complete land border demarcation and marker installation, organising activities to mark the 65th founding anniversary of Vietnam-China diplomatic ties and removing hindrances to Vietnamese students studying in China. The Chinese Party and government attaches importance to its comprehensive cooperation with Vietnam for mutual interest and for peace and development in the region and the world, he said. Remaining issues in the two countries’ relationship should be satisfactorily settled in the spirit of peace and friendship, said the Chinese diplomat. In the reception given to outgoing Myanmar Ambassador Khin Maung Soe, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung spoke highly of the Ambassador’s contributions during his term of office in the country. Vietnam wants to promote cooperation with Myanmar in economics investment and trade, he said. The Myanmar diplomat said he had worked to invite Vietnamese business delegations to Myanmar to seek investment opportunities, promote trade and the opening of a direct air route between Vietnam and Myanmar. He promised to further contribute to the two countries’ cooperation./.
