Hong Kong (VNA) – The Consulate General ofVietnam in Guangzhou city, the Chinese province of Guangdong, has held abanquet in celebration of the 67th founding anniversary of the countries’diplomatic ties (January 18, 1950). 

The event on January 18 drew many Guangdongofficials and entrepreneurs, along with Vietnamese people living in the Chineseprovince.

In his address, Consul General Nguyen Tien Hongsaid during the past 67 years, the Vietnam-China traditional friendship,nurtured by generations of their leaders, have continually reinforced. TheVietnamese people always keep in mind the enormous support and assistance givenby the Chinese Party, Government and people throughout history.

The unceasing consolidation and development ofthe friendship and cooperation is completely in line with the fundamental andlong-term interests of the two peoples, thus contributing to peace, stability,cooperation and development in the region and the world, he added.

He noted the Vietnam-China comprehensivestrategic cooperative partnership has been thriving in recent years as seenthrough regular mutual visits by their senior leaders. In 2015, Vietnam becamethe biggest ASEAN trading partner of China, which in turn posted a recordincrease of its tourists in 2016, reaching some 2.7 million, to the SoutheastAsian nation.

Many cooperation agreements between Vietnameselocalities and Guangdong have been implemented, strengthening their economic,trade, investment, tourism, cultural and sci-tech partnerships.

At the end of November 2016, trade betweenVietnam and Guangdong rose 2 percent year on year to about 15.2 billion USD,Hong said, voicing his belief that their multi-faceted ties will keep expandingin the future.

Echoing Hong’s view, Guangdong Deputy GovernorHe Zhongyou said the traditional friendship between the two countries has beenfortified with growing exchanges and cooperation in all fields between theirParties and States.

Guangdong and Vietnam have also enjoyedsignificant cooperation achievements in terms of high-ranking visits, trade,investment, agriculture, tourism and culture thanks to strong promotion by thecountries’ Party and State leaders and the Consul General’s activecoordination.

In November 2015, the fifth meeting oncoordinating Vietnam-Guangdong cooperation took place in Guangzhou city,approving a bilateral cooperation plan for 2015-2017 which is a solidfoundation for the new period of cooperation. With that foundation, both sidesare hopeful about a future of sound cooperation, He added.-VNA