National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan hosted a reception in Hanoi on May 24 for Chinese Ambassador to Vietnam Hong Xiaoyong, calling for further facilitation of high-level visits and increased political trust.

National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan and Chinese Ambassador to Vietnam Hong Xiaoyong (​L).

Ngan said both countries reached a common consensus on orientations to foster stable, healthy and sustainable ties during Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong’s visit to China in April 2015 and Chinese Party General Secretary and President Xi Jinping’s Vietnam visit in November 2015.

The two countries should boost practical cooperation and deal with maritime issues in the spirit of respecting each other’s legitimate interests and international law, she said.

She suggested continuing to realise cooperation agreements between Vietnamese and Chinese legislatures as well as increase experience sharing between Vietnamese and Chinese ministries and localities.

Hong, for his part, congratulated the Vietnamese NA on the successful organisation of the election of deputies to the 14 th NA and the People’s Councils at all levels for the 2016-2021 tenure.

Reviewing the positive development of bilateral ties, he said two-way trade surpassed 90.8 billion USD, with Vietnam becoming the top trade partner of China in ASEAN.

He also underscored connectivity within the “Two corridors, one economic belt” framework for increased border trade, saying that the two countries’ authorised agencies have scored specific deals to improve manufacturing capability as well as nurture defence and education ties and people-to-people exchanges.

The guest wished that more practical measures will be adopted to lift Vietnam-China relationship to a greater height.

VNA