国内英语新闻:China, Vietnam pledge to boost "comradely" ties

BEIJING, May 12 (Xinhua) -- Chinese leaders and senior officials on Friday met separately with visiting Vietnamese President Tran Dai Quang, pledging to boost the bilateral "comradely and brotherly" ties.

Premier Li Keqiang said China is willing to keep bilateral relations moving in the right direction with Vietnam, increase high-level exchanges, synchronize development between the Belt and Road Initiative and Vietnam's Two Corridors and One Economic Circle schemes, and promote cooperation overland, on the sea and in financial sectors.

Li said China will continue to boost border economy and jointly combat cross-border crimes with Vietnam to promote peace and prosperity in the border regions.

Quang said Vietnam will push for cooperation with China in trade, investment, agriculture, infrastructure, high technology, finance, renewable energy, and people-to-people exchanges.

Zhang Dejiang, chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, said China-Vietnam relations are positive and the two countries are committed to long-term friendship.

During Quang's visit, a number of bilateral agreements have been signed, and a joint communique issued, noted Zhang, who urged the people of both countries to advance all-around strategic cooperation.

Quang said Vietnam is willing to consolidate Vietnam-China comradely and brotherly friendship to ensure healthy, stable and lasting bilateral relations.

Yu Zhengsheng, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), said China and Vietnam are good neighbors, have the same political system, face common development challenges and have positive cooperation prospects.

Yu said the two countries should seize the opportunity of the Belt and Road to expand bilateral cooperation. He said the CPPCC will continue to work closely with the Vietnam Fatherland Front to share ideas on political consultation and promote people-to-people exchanges.

Liu Yunshan, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said China and Vietnam have a shared future and the two countries should help each other through good times and bad.

Liu also mentioned the need to promote people-to-people exchanges to increase the understanding and relations between the two peoples.

Quang is on a state visit to China from May 11 to 15, and will attend the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation.

This is Quang's first visit to China since he took office in April 2016.

The Vietnamese leader on Friday attended a China-Vietnam economic forum in Beijing together with Chinese Vice Premier Wang Yang.

Wang said China is keen to upgrade bilateral trade, and expand investment and production capacity cooperation with Vietnam while pushing for progress in education, health, culture, agriculture and tourism.