国内英语新闻:China, Vietnam sign agreement on parliamentary cooperation

BEIJING, Dec. 24 (Xinhua) -- China's top legislator Zhang Dejiang on Thursday called on China and Vietnam to strengthen political mutual trust and keep bilateral relations on the right track.

Zhang, chairman of the Standing Committee of China's National People's Congress (NPC), made the remarks in his talks with Chairman of Vietnamese National Assembly Nguyen Sinh Hung in Beijing.

During their talks, Zhang and Hung signed a cooperation agreement between the NPC and Vietnamese National Assembly.

It is in the fundamental interests of China and Vietnam to enhance solidarity and friendship and deepen mutually beneficial cooperation, said Zhang.

He said the two countries should beef up strategic communication and properly control their divergences, so as to keep their relations on the right track.

China and Vietnam should promote the alignment of their development strategies and push forward cooperation within the framework of China's "Belt and Road" initiative and Vietnam's "Two Corridors and One Economic Circle" plan, he said.

The signing of cooperation agreement between the NPC and the Vietnamese National Assembly will further advance the friendly relations between the two legislative bodies, said Zhang.

He called on the two legislatures to share experience on promoting reform and enhancing the rule of law, so as to create a favorable legal environment for bilateral pragmatic cooperation.

Hung said a strong and stable China has offered opportunities for Vietnam's development and is beneficial to peace and development in the region.

Vietnam is willing to work with China to expand mutually beneficial cooperation and effectively control the differences, so as to achieve an ever-lasting friendship, he said.

The Vietnamese National Assembly will implement the cooperation agreement with the NPC and play a bigger role in promoting friendship between the two countries, he added.

Earlier on Thursday, China's top political advisor Yu Zhengsheng also met with Hung.

Yu, Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), said the CPPCC National Committee attaches high importance to promoting relations with its counterpart, the Vietnam Fatherland Front (VFF).

Hung is visiting China from Wednesday to Sunday as the guest of Zhang Dejiang.