Hanoi (VNA) – Prime Minister NguyenXuan Phuc received visiting Chinese State Councillor and Minister of PublicSecurity Zhao Kezhi in Hanoi on February 19.

Welcoming his guest, who is in Vietnam toco-chair the 7th meeting on cooperation in crime prevention and control betweenthe two ministries of public security, PM Phuc informed about the success ofthe recent 13th National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV).

He reiterated that the Vietnamese Party, State,and people always attach importance to maintaining and developing the friendlyneighbourliness and comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership with theirChinese counterparts, which is a consistent policy, a strategic choice, and aleading priority in Vietnam’s foreign policy.

The PM applauded the outcomes of the workingsession between Zhao and Vietnamese Minister of Public Security To Lam, askingthe two sides to continue implementing the freshly signed agreement well.

The Chinese minister delivered Premier LiKeqiang’s Lunar New Year greetings and congratulations on the success of the CPV’s13th National Congress to PM Phuc.

Vietnam and China are important strategicpartners of each other, Zhao emphasised, expressing his hope that they willfurther strengthen economic, trade, and investment ties and guarantee supplychains so as to generate practical benefits for both peoples.

PM Phuc thanked China for its active cooperationand support for Vietnam’s proposals and initiatives during the latter’sChairmanship of ASEAN in 2020.

Amid fast and complex developments in the globaland regional situation, the countries’ Government leaders held phone talksearly, in April 2020, to discuss cooperation and mutual assistance in theCOVID-19 fight, he noted.

Vietnam highly values China’s enormous effortsin the pandemic prevention along with economic recovery and development, hewent on.

The PM underlined that in the face of thecurrent complex international situation and for all-round interests of the twoParties and countries, Vietnam really hopes for peace and stability in theregion.

The CPV has the responsibility of guaranteeingVietnam’s legitimate interests, and it supports a China of development withactive contributions to regional and global peace, cooperation, and development,Phuc affirmed.

Vietnam wishes and is ready to join China inenhancing political trust, coordinating well in international and regionalissues of shared concern, effectively realising the high-level commonperceptions on sea-related issues, respecting each other’s legitimate interestson the basis of compliance with international law, and actively contributing tothe maintenance of peace and the promotion of cooperation and development inthe region and the world, according to PM Phuc.

He voiced his belief that the two governmentsand the two ministries of public security will help with the sound relationsbetween Vietnam and China.

The Vietnamese Government leader also asked theChinese Ministry of Public Security to facilitate the development of bilaterallinks in economy and trade and help sustain peace, friendship, stability, anddevelopment along the shared borderline.

Via Minister Zhao, PM Phuc offered the bestwishes to Chinese Party General Secretary and State President Xi Jinping andPremier Li Keqiang./.