Developing relations with China has always been a consistent policy, strategic choice, and top priority.

President To Lam respectfully conveyed the greetings and best wishes of General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and other key Vietnamese leaders to General Secretary and President Xi Jinping, Premier Li Qiang and other key Chinese leaders. On behalf of the leaders of the Party and State of Vietnam, the President congratulated Ambassador Hung Ba on successfully completing his term of office in Vietnam; acknowledged and highly appreciated the Ambassador's important contributions to the Vietnam-China relationship.

President To Lam and Ambassador Hung Ba happily looked back at the remarkable progress in Vietnam-China relations over the past 5 years, since the Ambassador took up his duties in Vietnam, such as high-level exchanges and contacts being strongly promoted, especially the historic visits of General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong to China in October 2022 and General Secretary and President Xi Jinping to Vietnam in December 2023; the two sides have established a "new position" for bilateral relations, raising the level of the Comprehensive Strategic Cooperative Partnership, building a Vietnam-China Community of Shared Future of strategic significance. Economic, trade and investment cooperation continues to be a bright spot in the relationship between the two countries, with Vietnam rising to become China's 5th largest trading partner in terms of national criteria. The two sides have also actively supported each other to overcome the Covid-19 pandemic, with China being one of the countries that provides the most and fastest vaccines to Vietnam. Local cooperation and people-to-people exchanges have taken place actively and effectively, contributing to consolidating a solid social foundation for bilateral relations.

Discussing the relationship between the two Parties and the two countries, the President affirmed that developing relations with China has always been a consistent policy, a strategic choice, and a top priority in Vietnam's foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, multilateralization, and diversification. The President suggested that the two sides increase exchanges and contacts at high and all levels, consolidate political trust; continue to promote and improve the quality and effectiveness of cooperation in all fields, deepen cooperation between localities, and further enhance people-to-people exchanges, thereby consolidating and further strengthening the social foundation of the relationship between the two countries.

President To Lam received Chinese Ambassador Hung Ba to say goodbye.

(Photo: VNA)

Ambassador Hung Ba respectfully thanked President To Lam for taking the time to meet him before returning home after his term ended; and thanked the leaders of the Party, State, ministries, branches, agencies and localities of Vietnam for supporting and creating favorable conditions for the Ambassador to successfully complete his duties in Vietnam. The Ambassador expressed his honor to directly participate in and contribute to the important progress of the relationship between the two Parties and the two countries in recent times.

Congratulating the great and historic achievements of the Party, State and people of Vietnam under the leadership of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam, headed by General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, Ambassador Hung Ba affirmed that the Party, Government and People of China firmly support Vietnam in maintaining stability and prosperous development, and firmly believe that Vietnam will successfully complete the visions and goals for national development by the middle of this century as determined by the 13th National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam.

Agreeing with the directions of President To Lam, Ambassador Hung Ba affirmed that China always considers relations with Vietnam a priority direction in its foreign policy, is ready to promote exchanges and cooperation at all levels, sectors and fields; believes that the potential for cooperation between the two sides in the coming time is very open and will certainly be enhanced in the coming time. Ambassador Hung Ba affirmed that after the end of his term, regardless of his position, he will always monitor and continue to actively contribute to the friendly neighborly relationship, the Vietnam-China Community of Shared Future which has strategic significance.

Regarding maritime issues, the two sides agreed to seriously implement high-level agreements and common perceptions, better control and resolve disagreements, and not let the East Sea issue affect the overall well-developed bilateral relationship, contributing to peace, stability, and development in the region and the world.

Source: https://nhandan.vn/phat-trien-quan-he-voi-trung-quoc-luon-la-chu-truong-nhat-quan-lua-chon-chien-luoc-uu-tien-hang-dau-post819602.html