Vietnamese, Chinese youth urged to cement friendship Vietnam-China Youth Gala in Nanning city (Photo: VNA) President Truong Tan Sang and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinjing on November 26 sent congratulatory letters to the second China-Vietnam Youth Gala, held in Nanning, the capital city of south China's Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region.  President Sang, in his letter, wrote that Vietnam and China are friendly neighbours bound by mountains and rivers, with their people living in harmony for thousands of years, sharing joy and grief during national liberation. The bilateral friendship fostered by Presidents Ho Chi Minh and Mao Zedong, and nurtured by veteran revolutionaries, generations of leaders and two peoples is a common invaluable asset shared by both nations. Today, the long-established amity and affinity are vividly manifested by the Vietnam – China comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership under the motto “friendly neighbourliness, comprehensive cooperation, long-term stability, looking towards the future” and in the spirit of “good neighbours, good friends, good comrades, good partners”. He said cementing their bilateral friendship is in line with the common interests of both nations and is beneficial to peace, stability and the prosperity of the region and the world. He called on youngsters to be fully aware of their role and mission and make the world a better place with brainpower, passion and compassion. The President said he believes young people will keep striving and dedicate their efforts to the bilateral friendship, for peace and social progress in the region and the world. Meanwhile, Xi wrote that the friendship, which was forged by older generations of leaders of the two countries, is rooted in the hearts of the two peoples. Xi called on the two sides to develop bilateral ties under the guidance of the principles of long-term stability, facing the future, good-neighbourliness and all-around cooperation. According to the President, the lasting China-Vietnam friendship conforms to the fundamental interests of the two countries and their citizens. "Youth is the future of a country, and the hope of a nation," he said, adding that young people will determine the future of the bilateral friendship. Inheriting the friendship is the mission and responsibility of the youth of China and Vietnam, he said, expressing hope that Chinese and Vietnamese youths will work together to promote bilateral relations and contribute to world peace and development.-VNA