Vietnam will try its utmost to foster and develop its neighbourly, traditional friendship and comprehensive cooperation with China, said a Vietnamese top legislator.

National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Phu Trong made the statement while receiving a delegation from the Law Committee of the Chinese National People’s Congress (NPC) led by its Chairman Hu Kangsheng in Hanoi on September 10.

NA Chairman Trong welcomed the Chinese delegation’s five-day visit to Vietnam starting Sept. 10, saying that it provides an opportunity for the two sides to exchange experiences in all aspects, especially legislative work, helping raise the quality and effectiveness of their comprehensive strategic cooperation partnership as agreed by the two countries’ high-ranking leaders.

He expressed his wish that in the coming time, the two sides will increase the exchange of delegations, information and experiences between the two parliaments and their bodies, deputies and parliamentary friendship groups, contributing to the development of the two nations’ relationship under the motto of “friendly neighbourliness, comprehensive cooperation, long-term stability and looking towards the future”.

For his part, Hu noted that China and Vietnam share a lot of strengths and have many common objectives, as they are two neighbouring countries.

The strengthening of bilateral ties is suitable to the needs and desires of both sides, as well as contributes to the prosperity of the whole region, he said.

Hu expressed his belief that Vietnam will play an important role as the Chair of the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA) in the 2009-2010 term.

He said he wished the relationship between the two countries and the two parliaments would be continuously consolidated in the future.

With efforts from both sides, the Vietnam-China Friendship Year 2010 will make an active contribution to fostering and developing their traditional friendship and cooperation, he added.

Hu conveyed NPC Chairman Wu Bangguo’s invitation for NA Chairman Trong to lead an AIPA delegation to visit China .

On the same day, the Chinese guests held talks with a delegation from the Vietnamese NA’s Law Committee. As scheduled, they will work with the NA’s Committee for Social Affairs and visit Ho Chi Minh City , the central province of Thua Thien Hue and the southern province of Binh Duong./.