Beijing (VNA) – Vietnamese Consul General to Guangzhou province Nguyen Tien Hong on January 14 hosted a banqueꦿt to mark the 66th anniversary of diplomatic ties between Vietnam and China (January 18, 1950).

The event saw the participation of representatives of people’s governments of Guangzhou and Guangdong provinces, local businesses and the Vietnamese community in China. Addressing the banquet, Hong said the establishment of bilateral diplomatic ties 66 years ago went down in the two countries’ histories as an important event. The traditional friendship, which was cultivated by the two countries’ former leaders, has been consolidated and developed, the Consul General said. Vietnamese people always bear in mind the great support of the Chinese Party, Government and people during their past struggle for national liberation, as well as the present cause of national construction. The 66-year journey has proven that the enhancement of the friendship and cooperation totally matches fundamental and long-term interests of the two sides’ peoples, contributing to strengthening peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region and the world, Hong noted. He expressed his delight at the ceaseless developments of the Vietnam-China comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership in recent years, as evidenced by regular exchange of visits by high-ranking leaders. During the visits, the leaders reached common perceptions on major issues, contributing to preserving and developing the fruitful traditional friendship, he added. The Consul General also commented on the collaboration between Guangdong province and Vietnamese ministries, agencies and localities, saying an array of agreements have been realised actively following the visit to Vietnam by Secretary of the Guangdong provincial Party Committee Hu Chunhua, helping elevate the economic, trade, cultural, scientific, technological and tourism ties between the two sides. According to him, by November 2015 trade between Vietnam and Guangdong reached 14.9 billon USD, up 16.7 percent year-on-year . Echoing Hong’s views, Wuken, Deputy Secretary General of the Guangdong People’s Government, said that between January and November Guangdong has invested in six projects worth nearly 30 million USD in Vietnam. He voiced his wish to work together to further promote mutually beneficial cooperation in all areas.-VNA