Xi sends festive greetings to Vietnam

General secretary hails high-level exchanges, frequent contacts

Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, exchanged Spring Festival greetings on Thursday with General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee Nguyen Phu Trong.

As the traditional festival celebrated by both nations draws near, both leaders stressed the important role of conducting high-level contacts between the two parties and the two countries.

High-level exchanges, and frequent contact between the top leaders of the two countries in particular, have been playing a key, strategic role in navigating the development of bilateral relations, Xi said.

Xi said he is willing to keep close contact with Trong to jointly promote stable, long-term development of China-Vietnam relations and take them to a higher level.

Trong said he looks forward to working with Xi to cement political mutual trust, improve the quality of cooperation and promote the lasting development of bilateral ties.

This year will be greatly significant for Vietnam's ties with China, Trong added.

The exchange of greetings was made as bilateral trade reached $100 billion annually last year, and close to 10 million visits were made by their residents in 2017.

Xi said the two countries made a major step in synergizing their visions — the Belt and Road Initiative and the Two Corridors and One Economic Circle — and people in both countries felt a growing sense of gain from the development of bilateral ties.

As the bilateral comprehensive strategic partnership enters its 10th year in 2018, Xi said the CPC is willing to work with the CPV to strengthen their efforts in politically navigating the development of China-Vietnam ties, carry forward traditional friendship, and promote all-round cooperation.

The two parties should further promote the well-being of the two peoples, boost the development of the socialist cause, and contribute to the progress of humanity, Xi added.

Xi said the visits exchanged between he and Trong are historic, and the wide ranging consensus reached by them have been translated into fruitful outcomes of bilateral exchanges and cooperation.

Xinhua contributed to this story.