Chairman of Vietnam’s National Assembly Nguyen Sinh Hung and Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress of China (NPC) Zhang Dejiang signed a cooperation agreement between the two countries’ legislatures after their talks in Beijing on December 24.

NA Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung (L) and Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress of China Zhang Dejiang signed a cooperation agreement between the two countries’ legislatures.

The document will serve as a legal basis for implementing future collaboration activities between the two sides. It focuses on maintaining and increasing experience sharing in law making, supervision and anti-corruption, regularly implementing delegation exchanges, and enhancing the role of and exchanges between the two countries’ parliamentarians groups and people’s councils of border localities.

The two countries’ legislative bodies will promote the exchange of information on their respective activities and procedures and laws and other official documents in accordance with law of each country while sharing experiences in administration and financial management.

They will compare notes on shared international issues, strengthen coordination of their delegations within the framework of international and regional parliamentary organisations as well as organise conferences and workshops on shared issues.

Later the day, Chairman Zhang hosted a banquet in honour of Chairman Hung and his entourage.

On December 25, Chairman Hung is scheduled to leave Beijing for Hunan province. He is on a five-day official visit China from December 23.

Vietnam’s top legislator meets with CPPCC leader

National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung met with Yu Zhengsheng, Chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), in Beijing on December 24 a part of his five-day official visit to China.

The Vietnamese top legislator lauded Chairman Yu’s role in promoting friendship and addressing difficulties in the two countries’ ties in recent times.

He affirmed the Party and State of Vietnam treasure traditional friendship and promote the strategic cooperative partnership between the two countries, which he said is among Vietnam’s important tasks.

He stated the implementation of a cooperation agreement signed between the Vietnam National Assembly and the National People's Congress of China (NPC) has contributed to bolstering the two countries’ relations.

He informed his host on cooperation orientations between the Vietnamese National Assembly and the NPC, hoping for support from Yu and his agency toward the joint work of two legislatures for benefit of the two peoples.

The NA leader went on reiterating the comment of China’s Party General Secretary and President Xi Jinping at the December 23 meeting that there remain divergences between Vietnam and China, which cannot be settled overnight. The two sides need to maintain good control over the situation and acknowledge that shared benefits outweigh differences.

Chairman Hung underscored Vietnam’s stance on settling differences, stressing the need to fully respect legitimate interests of each country in accordance with international law.

For his part, Yu recalled his trip to Vietnam in December 2014 and expressed his delight at receiving support and goodwill of high-ranking Vietnamese officials in addressing difficulties in the countries’ relations.

He stressed that Vietnam-China friendship could not be harmed by these temporary obstacles.

Concerning upbeat outcomes from recent high-ranking visits between the two countries, he said through the joint statement, the two leaders have mapped out the bilateral engagement in the near future.

According to him, the Vietnam-China joint committees in maritime, land, infrastructure and financing have started their work together.

He also introduced the CPPCC’s organisation and position, highlighting the importance of an agreement signed between the CPPCC and the Vietnam Fatherland Front for the sake of the two countries’ people as well as regional and global peace.

NA Chairman holds talks with Chinese NPC leader

Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress of China (NPC) Zhang Dejiang has stated that Vietnam and China should have lay out a strategic, comprehensive and long-term vision to materialise common consensus reached by their leaders.

During his talks with National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung in Beijing on December 24 right after the welcome ceremony, Zhang stressed the need to control conflicts and set orientations to developing bilateral ties.

He called for launching prompt negotiations towards connecting the initiatives “One Belt, One Road” and “Two Corridors, One Belt”, and conducting a feasibility study on Lao Cai – Hanoi – Hai Phong hi-speed railway and Van Don – Mong Cai expressway.

China will encourage prestigious firms to invest in Vietnam and facilitate the construction of cross-border economic zones between the two countries.

China is willing to devise solutions to easing trade imbalance with Vietnam, he said, adding that both countries should build a solid social foundation to foster their friendship.

The Vietnamese NA Chairman, for his part, informed the host that the Vietnamese Party, State and people will celebrate the 70th anniversary of the NA election on January 6, 2016, and commented that ties between the Vietnamese NA and the NPC have leaped over the past time, especially between the Vietnam – China and China – Vietnam Friendship Parliamentarians’ Groups.

He recalled that Chinese Party General Secretary and President Xi Jinping, in his address to the Vietnamese NA during his visit, stressed the NPC’s role in relationship between the two countries and suggested increased exchanges between the two legislatures.

The two legislatures should intensify liaison in lawmaking as well as improve the scale and efficiency of the Vietnam – China comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership, he said.

Hung pushed forward efforts to facilitate visits by ministries and localities, thereby fostering friendship between the two peoples.

He hoped that Zhang together with Chinese leaders would settle existing differences over territorial sovereignty via discussions to seek solutions that meet legitimate interests of the two peoples.

On the occasion, the Vietnamese leader invited Zhang to visit Vietnam in his convenient time. Zhang accepted the invitation with pleasure.

Following the talks, they signed a cooperation agreement, the first of its kind, between the two legislative bodies, opening up a new period of partnership between the two peoples.

NA Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung’s visit to China, from December 23-27, aims to actualise high-level agreements reached by the two sides over the past time while promoting the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership between the two countries in a stable, healthy and sustainable manner, for the interest of each side, and for peace and stability in the region and the world at large.

Vietnamese, Chinese friendship associations urged to forge links

National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung suggested the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with foreign countries closely coordinate with the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organisations (VUFO) to foster the Vietnam-China comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership.

At areception for President of the Chinese association Li Xiaolin on December 24 in Beijing on the occasion of his friendship visit to China, the top Vietnamese legislator said he hopes closer affiliation between the two associations will help reinforce the friendship between the two Parties, States and their people in the future.

He spoke highly of the two associations for organising activities to mark the 65 th anniversary of diplomatic ties, saying that these contributed to promoting the traditional relationship between the two nations.

NA Chairman Hung affirmed that his visit aims to concretise high-level agreements between the two countries and boost the Vietnam-China comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership as well as exchange views on remaining issues and seek solutions to them for mutual benefit.

He reiteratedthe Vietnamese Party and State’s consistent policy of attaching importance to preserving and promoting the Vietnam-China traditional friendship and solidarity. The 65-year special friendship is a valuable asset that needs to be preserved and further developed for the benefit of the two peoples as well as for peace and prosperity in the region and the world, he stated.

For her part, Li briefed the Vietnamese leader on her agency’s recent activities, saying that performing its functions, the Chinese association has contributed to strengthening the traditional friendship and solidarity between the two peoples.

Expressing her good impressions on Vietnam’s land and people, she highlighted the significance of the time-honoured bilateral friendship, which has been developed and nurtured by generations of leaders of both countries.

She affirmed that her association will continue to expand its activities to realise agreements reached during visits of the two sides’ leaders.

It will increase coordination with the VUFO to boost cultural connection activities and people-to-people forums in the coming time, she added.

VNA