China and Vietnam Pledge to Strengthen Traditional Friendship
On Monday, Chinese President Xi Jinping and his Vietnamese counterpart To Lam vowed to deepen the traditional friendship between their nations and jointly advance the development of a China-Vietnam community with a shared future.
President Xi, who is also the general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, met with To Lam, general secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.
To Lam arrived in Guangzhou on Sunday morning and is on a state visit to China until Tuesday. President Xi welcomed Lam’s visit and congratulated him on his election as general secretary of the CPV Central Committee.
China is the first overseas destination for Lam since taking office, a gesture that Xi said reflects the importance Lam places on the relations between the two parties and countries, as well as the high-level and strategic nature of China-Vietnam relations.
Xi expressed his willingness to establish a strong working relationship and personal friendship with Lam to jointly guide substantial developments in building a China-Vietnam community with a shared future.
“Amid changes in the world, the times, and history, China and Vietnam have maintained rapid economic development and long-term social stability, demonstrating the superiority of the socialist system and the vitality of the socialist cause,” Xi stated. He emphasized that China regards Vietnam as a priority in its neighborhood diplomacy and supports Vietnam in upholding the leadership of the CPV, pursuing the socialist path suited to its national conditions, and advancing reform, opening up, and socialist modernization.
At this critical stage of national development and revitalization, Xi suggested that China and Vietnam should consolidate their relationship by enhancing political mutual trust, security cooperation, practical collaboration, public support, multilateral coordination, and effective management of differences.
China is ready to maintain close strategic communication and high-level exchanges with Vietnam, actively exploring ways to align the Belt and Road Initiative with Vietnam’s Two Corridors and One Economic Circle strategy. Xi proposed accelerating infrastructure connectivity in railways, expressways, and ports, enhancing customs cooperation, and jointly building a secure and stable industrial and supply chain.
He called for collaboration in celebrating the 75th anniversary of China-Vietnam diplomatic ties next year by jointly organizing activities such as the China-Vietnam Year of People-to-People and Cultural Exchanges to strengthen the bond between the two peoples.
Xi also advocated for joint efforts to uphold the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence and international norms, promote a multipolar world and inclusive globalization, uphold fairness and justice, and protect the common interests of developing countries.
Briefing Lam on the recent developments from the third plenary session of the 20th CPC Central Committee, Xi stressed that China’s further deepening of reforms and high-level opening-up will create new opportunities for Vietnam and other countries.
“China is willing to deepen the exchange of experience in party and state governance with Vietnam, jointly upgrading the modernization of national governance systems and capacities, and marching toward modernization together,” Xi concluded.
(With input from Xinhua)
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
