Chinese president hails solid China-Vietnam ties

HANOI - Visiting Chinese President Xi Jinping said here on Monday that the party-to-party and state-to-state relations between China and Vietnam are solid.

Xi, who is also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, made the remarks when he met with General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee Nguyen Phu Trong again here on Monday.

Xi said the consensus reached by leaders of the two countries is being translated into tangible cooperation achievements.

Noting that his visit to Vietnam was very smooth, Xi said he had friendly and in-depth exchanges with Trong on Sunday, with the two sides agreeing to further deepen bilateral cooperation and advance the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership.

As the international and regional situations in the new period are undergoing profound changes, the significance of China-Vietnam relationship is becoming more prominent, Xi said.

To guide the development of the bilateral ties, the two sides should hold the general direction of China-Vietnam relationship, enhance people-to-people exchanges, cement popular support of the bilateral ties, and firmly safeguard friendly cooperation between the two countries, so as to ensure that the relations between the two parties and two countries will always advance on the right track, Xi said.

Trong, for his part, said it is of great significance that Vietnam becomes Xi's first overseas destination after the 19th CPC National Congress, adding that the Vietnamese people sincerely welcome Xi's visit.

The friendly talks on Sunday fully reflected the bond of camaraderie and brotherhood, Trong said.

Vietnam is willing to work with China to strengthen exchanges on party and state governance, carry forward traditional friendship, and strive to lift relations between the two parties and two countries to a new stage, he said.

The two leaders, after the meeting, went for a stroll at the former residence of late Vietnamese leader Ho Chi Minh, reviewing the friendly exchanges by previous generations of the two countries' leaders.

Xi also attended a wreath laying ceremony at the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum on Monday.