Vietnam will do its utmost to fulfil the role of ASEAN Chair, enhance economic and cultural diplomacy and overseas affairs and continue deepening relationships between Vietnam and other countries this year.

The statement was made by Vietnamese Foreign Ministry’s spokeswoman Nguyen Phuong Nga at a regular press briefing in Hanoi on Jan. 28, during which she reviewed the country’s key diplomatic achievements in 2009 and spoke about the country’s focus for 2009.

In response to queries about the Vietnam-China Friendship Year in 2010, she recalled how the two countries first established diplomatic ties on Jan. 18, 1950, which she described as an important and significant event in both countries’ histories.

The two countries have agreed to celebrate the event at local and central levels throughout the year, she added.

Both have organised a series of activities in January, making a good start for the Vietnam-China Friendship Year, Nga noted.

Vietnam attaches great importance and spares no effort in developing its comprehensive cooperative strategic partnership with China in line with the motto of “friendly neighbourliness, comprehensive cooperation, durable stability and future-oriented vision” and the four-good spirits of “good neighbours, good friends, good comrades, and good partners.”

Also at the press briefing, the spokeswoman announced that the Vietnamese government has decided to provide 50,000 USD to help the victims of the recent earthquake in Haiti, joining hands with the international community to help the country overcome the quake’s aftermath and resume normal life soon./.