Opening up new prospects for Sino-Vietnamese ties

Cartoon commentary on President Xi's Southeast Asia trip. [Photo/cctv.com]

Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, paid a state visit to Vietnam on Nov 12-13.

Xi had talks with Nguyen Phu Trong, general secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee, Vietnamese President Tran Dai Quang and Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan, Chairwoman of the National Assembly of Vietnam respectively, working out the road map for the development of Sino-Vietnamese relations in the new period.

It's Xi's first overseas trip on the heels of the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China held in October and also marks the mutual visit within a single year by the top leaders of the two parties and two countries, which are of great significance to the bilateral relationship.

During the visit, Xi and Vietnamese leaders had in-depth exchanges of views on enhancing strategic communication between the two parties and two countries, stepping up exchanges of experience in the party and state governance, further synergizing the development strategies of the two countries, and deepening and broadening pragmatic cooperation and people-to-people exchanges, as well as on regional and international issues of mutual concerns.

The leaders of both sides had reached a consensus on deepening China-Vietnam comprehensive strategic cooperation partnership and witnessed the signing of a series of cooperation agreements.

Public opinions say Xi's visit has advanced the spirit of being good neighbors, friends, camaraderie and partners of the two countries to consolidate traditional friendships.

It is expected to boost bilateral cooperation in many fields including the implementation of China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative and Vietnam's "Two Corridors and One Economic Circle" plan, and promote the two countries to learn from each other and seek common development.

The landmark visit of Xi is also expected to open up new prospects for Sino-Vietnamese relations, which can make greater contributions to regional peace, stability and prosperity.