HANOI, July 17 (Xinhua) -- Visiting Chinese Vice Premier Zhang Gaoli met with Vietnamese President Truong Tan Sang here on Friday, and both sides pledged to further carry forward traditional friendship between the two countries.
Zhang, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, said the traditional friendship was forged and nurtured by late Chinese leader Mao Zedong and late Vietnamese leader Ho Chi Minh, which "is an invaluable asset of the two parties and the peoples of the two countries."
Hailing the development of the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership between the two nations, Zhang said it is in the fundamental interests of the two parties, two countries and two peoples to cement the traditional friendship between the two countries.
Zhang said China stands ready to work with Vietnam to jointly cherish and safeguard the friendship, substantially enhance mutual trust and continuously boost comprehensive strategic cooperation.
Zhang suggested the two sides earnestly advance the ongoing joint projects and continue expanding bilateral cooperation.
President Sang, for his part, said Zhang's visit is of great significance to build up political trust and boost practical cooperation between the two countries.
He expressed the hope that the two sides make joint efforts to implement the consensus reached between the leaders of the two countries, boost cooperation in various fields so as to advance their comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership in an enduring and stable way.
Earlier on Friday, Zhang visited the construction site of the Vietnam-China Friendship Palace, expecting the building, once completed, to work as a platform to help cement bilateral friendship.
Zhang arrived in Hanoi on Thursday for an official visit at the invitation of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee.
Wang Jiarui, vice chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference and head of the International Department of the CPC Central Committee, attended the events in Hanoi.