Efforts sought for closer Vietnam ties

President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, attends a grand welcome ceremony hosted by Nguyen Phu Trong, general secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee, ahead of their talks in Hanoi, Vietnam, Nov 12, 2017. (Photo/Xinhua)

Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and Chinese president, called on Monday for concerted efforts from China and Vietnam to achieve greater development in bilateral ties.

Xi made the statement on Monday in exchanging Lunar New Year greetings with Nguyen Phu Trong, general secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee and Vietnamese president.

Xi said the past year marks the 10th anniversary of the establishment of their comprehensive strategic partnership.

Over 10 years, they have deepened pragmatic cooperation for mutual benefit and win-win outcomes with the traditional friendship carried forward, exchanges promoted and mutual understanding enhanced, Xi said. He added they have jointly advanced the socialist cause's development.

Xi said both countries should strengthen high-level exchanges, advance the alignment of development strategies and carry on their friendship from generation to generation.

Trong said the good-neighborly friendship and the comprehensive cooperation between the two countries achieved fruitful outcomes in 2018. He is willing to work with Xi to continue to consolidate political mutual trust and promote cooperation to make tangible progress so as to bring ties between the parties and countries to a higher level, he added.