Chinese, Vietnamese presidents discuss bilateral ties

Chinese President Hu Jintao met Vietnamese President Truong Tan Sang on Saturday in Honolulu, Hawaii, to discuss bilateral ties and other issues of common concern.President Hu said that over the past two decades since the normalization of relations between China and Vietnam, the two sides have maintained close high-level exchanges, developed effective economic and trade cooperation, deepened exchanges on governance experience and continued to coordinate in international and regional affairs, which have brought concrete benefits to the two peoples.Hu said that one of the most important inspirational lessons learned from the past 20 years is that the two sides should forge ahead along the road of friendly cooperation in the spirit of responsibility to history and the two peoples in order to unswervingly consolidate and develop the China-Vietnam friendship.Hu said that China and Vietnam are both developing countries in a period of reform and innovation. To solve the problem of development and maintain stability are their major and pressing tasks.In the face of a complex and volatile international environment and unprecedented new situations, new problems and new challenges, the two countries should strengthen cooperation for common development, Hu said, adding that China is willing to work with Vietnam to further develop their all-around strategic cooperative partnership.Hu put forward a three-point proposal to that end, including strengthening strategic communication and improving political mutual trust, deepening practical cooperation and achieving mutual benefits and win-win results, and expanding people-to-people exchanges and laying a solid foundation for greater public support.Sang, on behalf of the Communist Party of Vietnam and the Vietnamese government, congratulated China on its tremendous economic and social achievements. He said he believed that under the leadership of the Communist Party of China (CPC), China's socialist cause will make greater progress.Sang said that last year marked the 60th anniversary of the establishment of China-Vietnam diplomatic ties, with bilateral relations between the two countries entering an important phase.Sang said that Vietnam has consistently advocated a strategy of strengthening and consolidating the two countries' all-around strategic cooperative partnership.Sang said General-Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Nguyen Phu Trong's formal visit to China in October 2011 had great significance for the development of their bilateral relations and has made important contributions to bring their ties to a new level.Sang proposed that, in the new phase, the two sides should act in accordance with the consensus reached by the two parties' leaders to enhance mutual trust between the two parties and two nations and exert greater efforts in developing bilateral relations.Moreover, Sang said he hoped to increase high-level visits as well as local exchanges and cooperation and promote communication and coordination on international and regional affairs in a bid to safeguard the common interests of developing countries.