Senior Official Expects Stronger China-Vietnam Ties

2012-02-14
Xinhua
Web Editor: Zhangjin

China and Vietnam shall jointly advance bilateral relations in a sustained, healthy and stable way, according to a senior Chinese official.

Zhou Yongkang, member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, made the remarks Monday when meeting visiting Vietnamese Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh in Beijing.

Zhou, also secretary of the CPC Central Commission for Political and Legal Affairs, said both countries are faced with the similar tasks of developing their economies, improving people's livelihoods and maintaining social stability.

China and Vietnam should equally address the risks and challenges at home and abroad, and thus strengthen cooperation and jointly address these challenges, he said.

As friendly neighbors linked with lands and waters, China and Vietnam should fully utilize the bilateral mechanism of cooperation to earnestly carry out their five-year plan for trade and economic cooperation, he said, adding the two countries should actively advance cooperation in culture, people-to-people exchanges and law enforcement.

The two sides should "properly handle controversial issues in bilateral relations," Zhou added.

Minh said the Vietnamese ruling party and government cherish the traditional friendship with China. Noting that this is his first visit to China as foreign minister, Minh said the trip is aimed to further deepen friendly exchanges and mutually beneficial cooperation with China.

Zhou said that during a visit to China by Vietnamese Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong last October, Chinese President Hu Jintao reached a number of important consensus with Trong on deepening the all-round strategic cooperation.

During Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping's visit to Vietnam last December, the two sides achieved a series of results on implementing the consensus of the general secretaries of the two ruling parties, Zhou said.

Zhou expressed the wish that both sides continue to improve the livelihoods of the people and maintain social harmony this year.

Minh said Vietnam is ready to cooperate closely with the Chinese side to earnestly implement the state leaders' consensus and actively advance negotiations on and properly address relevant issues. He expressed the willingness to work with China to continually advance Vietnam-China relations in the right direction.

Wang Jiarui, head of the International Department of the CPC Central Committee, also met with Minh on Monday.

Minh is paying an official visit to China from Feb. 12 to 15. He held talks with Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi Sunday afternoon.