China’s Wu Bangguo Meets Vietnam Party Chief

Text of report by official Chinese news agency Xinhua (New China News Agency)

[Report by Reporter Li Shijia: "Wu Bangguo Meets with General Secretary Nong Duc Manh of the Vietnamese Communist Party Central Committee"]

Beijing, 30 May (Xinhua) – Wu Bangguo, member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CCP Central Committee and chairman of the NPC Standing Committee, met with Nong Duc Manh, general secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam, at the Great Hall of the People this afternoon.

Wu Bangguo said: The friendship between China and Vietnam personally established and carefully fostered by leaders of the older generation is the precious wealth of the people of both countries and lays a solid political foundation for the development of bilateral ties. Through the joint efforts of both sides, China and Vietnam have made significant progress in cooperation in various fields and brought tangible benefits to the people of both countries in recent years. It is in the fundamental interest of the two countries and two peoples to treasure this traditional friendship, develop friendship for generations to come, push forward mutually beneficial cooperation, and promote common development. This is also conducive to peace, stability and development in the region, even the whole world. China is ready to further strengthen friendly exchanges and cooperation with the Vietnamese party, government and people and promote the continuous advance of the comprehensive strategic and cooperative partnership between the two countries.

Wu Bangguo spoke positively of the relations between the Chinese and Vietnamese legislatures. He said: Cooperation between China’s NPC and Vietnam’s parliament has a good foundation and takes place at different levels. Their deep-going exchanges have given a powerful boost to the development of state-to-state relations. China’s NPC is ready to make a joint effort with the Vietnamese parliament in a bid to continue to maintain contacts and dialogue at various levels, deepen the exchange of experience on governance and the building of democracy and rule of law, and make the traditional friendship between the two countries bear more abundant and excellent results.

Nong Duc Manh said: The purpose of my visit is to further deepen mutual understanding with the Chinese side, strengthen mutual support, and seek common development. The Vietnamese party and government support more positive and deep-going cooperation between the legislative bodies of both countries.

On behalf of the Vietnamese party, government and people, he extended deep sympathy and condolence to the Chinese party, government and people on the heavy casualties and loss of property suffered in the great earthquake in Sichuan. He believed that under the strong leadership of the CCP, the fraternal Chinese people will be able to triumph over natural disasters, overcome difficulties, and rebuild their homes before long.

Wang Jiarui, head of the International Liaison Department of the CCP Central Committee, and others were present during the meeting.

Originally published by Xinhua news agency domestic service, Beijing, in Chinese 1526 30 May 08.

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