Despite various ups and downs, the friendly and neighbourly relationship between Vietnam and China has developed well, benefiting both countries and peoples.
Vietnamese Ambassador to China Nguyen Van Tho made this affirmation at a Lunar New Year meeting with Vietnamese and Chinese media agencies in Beijing on January 16.
Ambassador Tho briefed the media on the situation in Vietnam, saying that though the country was affected by regional and global complications, Vietnam ironed out snags to gain significant achievements in all fields.
Economic growth was maintained at 5.9 percent while inflation was curbed, he noted, adding that Vietnam also recorded progress in culture, education, training, science, technology and tourism.
The diplomat emphasised that 2011 was a milestone in Vietnam-China relationship with remarkable developments in economics, politics, national defence and security, which was highlighted by Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong’s visit to China in October and Vice President Xi Jinping’s Vietnam visit in December.
According to the ambassador, bilateral cooperation was demonstrated through a number of events such as the fifth session of the Steering Committee for Vietnam-China Bilateral Cooperation, the seventh theoretical workshop between the two communist Parties, the third Vietnam-China People’s Forum, and the Vietnam-China Youth Festival.
Tho quoted the Chinese Customs as saying that China has been Vietnam’s biggest trade partner for the last seven years with two-way trade reaching US$40 billion in 2011, up 33.6 percent against the previous year.
China currently ranks 14th out of the 93 nations investing in Vietnam, with total registered capital of US$4.25 billion in 800 FDI projects.
Cooperation in culture, education, training, science and technology has also advanced. Vietnam now has 13,000 students in China and more than 3,000 Chinese students are studying in Vietnamese universities.
Tho said the two sides are working closely together to settle the remaining disputes between them in order to maintain peace, stability and cooperation in the region.
VOV
Vietnamese
