Hanoi (VNA) – Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang on July 18 received Chinese Ambassador to Vietnam Xiong Bo who came to say goodbye at the end of his tenure.

Looking back at the progress of Vietnam-China relations during the ambassador’s term of office in Vietnam since September 2018, both host and guest agreed that with the joint efforts of the two sides, the relationship between the two Parties and the two countries has never reached such a profound, comprehensive and practical level as it is today.

The relations witnessed many great achievements of historical significance such as the visit to China by General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee Nguyen Phu Trong in October 2022 and the visit to Vietnam by General Secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and President of China Xi Jinping in December 2023. The two sides also agreed to establish a new positioning for the bilateral relations, and build a Vietnam-China community with a shared future that carries strategic significance.

The exchanges and meetings at all levels between the two countries have been maintained regularly and in flexible formats. They have promoted practical cooperation in all fields, especially in trade-investment; strategic connectivity, especially transport connectivity; strategic infrastructure cooperation; tourism cooperation; friendship exchanges and locality-to-locality partnership.

Regarding the direction for further cooperation in the coming time, Quang suggested the two sides continue to promote the implementation of high-level common perceptions and signed agreements, especially the two Vietnam-China joint statements reached during the recent visits by the two Party chiefs.

The two sides will actively arrange high-level meetings and exchanges at all levels and via all channels; effectively coordinate to organise the 16th meeting of the Vietnam-China Steering Committee for Bilateral Cooperation; and promote cooperation in building a number of standard gauge railways linking the northern region of Vietnam with China.

At the reception, the Deputy PM congratulated the Chinese Ambassador on his successful term in Vietnam and spoke highly of his positive and important contributions to the Vietnam-China friendship and cooperation.

🅰 On this occasion, Quang proposed that the Chinese side continue to open its market for some high-quality agricultural products of Vietnam; increase large-scale investment and high-tech projects, and projects in new fields in Vietnam; promote cooperation in the fields of education, culture and tourism; and accelerate the progress of non-refundable aid projects for Vietnam./.