Strong party bonds secure platform on which to raise ties to new heights: China Daily editorial

The visit of Nguyen Phu Trong, general secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee, to China from Sunday to Wednesday conveys an unequivocal message that relations between the two socialist countries and the two communist parties are entering a new development stage.

Trong is the first foreign leader to visit China after the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, and also the first foreign leader China has received with receptions of "official visit" standards over the past three years. Trong's visit highlights the two countries' shared aspiration to seek common development. In the context of the complicated world developments, the visit is expected to not only deepen cooperation between the two sides but also contribute to ensuring stability in the region.

China and Vietnam are members of many multilateral organizations and mechanisms, and their mutual support in these multilateral forums can make them a strong stabilizing force.

That is especially important at a time when the United States is doing all it can to drive a wedge between China and its neighbors, in a bid to use the latter as pawns in its strategy to contain China.

With Vietnam being a key member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, CPC Central Committee General Secretary Xi Jinping in his meeting with Trong on Monday spoke of the need for the regional grouping to not allow any outside power to shake the foundations of regional cohesion.

Although, like the other regional countries, Vietnam does not want to offend the US, it does not want to harm its relations with China either. Particularly, since China is now Vietnam's largest trading partner and Vietnam is China's eighth-largest trading partner. Vietnam's GDP grew 8.83 percent in the first three quarters of this year, making it one of the fastest growing economies in the world. That could not have been achieved without its extensive cooperation with China and the stable and peaceful regional development environment.

The strong ties and strategic mutual trust between the two parties have always served as a ballast for the steady development of relations between the two neighbors, and there are hopes that some progress might be made in resolving some of the differences between the two countries. Speaking of the close connection between the two parties, Xi said that he and Trong had met on many occasions over the past few years and that all of the consensuses that they have reached have been put into effect.

That demonstrates the executive capabilities of the two parties, vitality of the two countries' socialist systems and the two nations' common wish to advance their win-win cooperation. On his part, Trong noted that developing sound relations with China has always remained a priority of Vietnam's diplomacy.

Xi urged the two parties to carry forward their traditional friendship, as comrades plus brothers, and promote mutual understanding between the younger generations of the two countries.

From the two parties to the two peoples, strengthening the bonds between the two neighbors can help build a community with a shared future in the region and beyond.