Hanoi, (VNA) – Vietnam hopes to strengthen trustwith China, improving the two countries’ cooperation across the fields while sustaining peace andstability in the East Sea based on respect for each other’s interests andinternational law.

The statement was made by Party General Secretary Nguyen PhuTrong at his reception in Hanoi on June 18 for Chinese Politburo member and Vice Chairman of theCentral Military Commission Fan Changlong.

The Party Secretary welcomed Fan and the Chinese high-ranking military delegation to Vietnam to attend thefourth Vietnam-China border defence friendship exchange programme scheduled totake place in both Vietnam and China from June 20-22.

Stressing the importance of cooperation and exchangeprogrammes between the two countries' armies, Trong said Vietnam and China should actively implement signed agreements and make full use of cooperative mechanisms like high-level meetingsand friendship exchanges between land and marine border forces and dialogues ondefence policy.

“Vietnam always values the long-time neighbourly friendshipand the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership with China,” he affirmed.

Fan, for his part, said China highly values therelationship with Vietnam, adding that the Chinese army, together with theVietnamese army, is determined to carry out agreements between the twocountries, contributing to the development of bilateral ties.

He said China hopes to increase high-level talks, strategic discussions and defence cooperation with Vietnam.-VNA