VN, China emphasise fostering stronger relations, political trust   Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong (left) meets Chinese Prime Minister Li Keqiang in Beijing as part of his official visit to China. — VNA/VNS Photo Tri Dung BEIJING — Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong met Chinese Premier Li Keqiang and Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC), Zhang Dejiang, in Beijing yesterday. Trong said Viet Nam treasured its friendship and co-operation with China. He congratulated China on its important socio-economic achievements, saying that Viet Nam highly appreciated its significant assistance during its struggle for national liberation and building socialism. Trong briefed Premier Li on the outcomes of his talks with General Secretary of the Communist Party of China and President Xi Jinping. He called on the two Governments to provide full and effective implementation of agreements and common perceptions between leaders of the two Parties and States to enhance strategic co-operation. Premier Li congratulated Viet Nam on its considerable attainments, saying that under the leadership of the Communist Party of Viet Nam, it would reap greater accomplishments in the future. The two leaders agreed that the intensification of relations, political trust between their leaders and friendship between their peoples were of the utmost importance to each country's development as well as regional peace, stability, co-operation and development. They exchanged in-depth opinions on steering the implementation of agreements and common perceptions of their leaders. They also agreed to bolster stable, balanced and sustainable development of economic, trade and investment co-operation. The two agreed that Viet Nam and China carry out agreements on their shared land border and the agreement on basic principles guiding the settlement of sea-related issues. They said they would effectively utilise the Government-level negotiation mechanism on Viet Nam-China border and territorial issues while working together to manage disputes, settle arising matters satisfactorily, maintain peace and stability at sea, speed up result-oriented negotiations to work out appropriate measures addressing sea-related issues and boost co-operation in the waters off the mouth of the Tonkin Gulf. Trong passed on an invitation from Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung to Premier Li to visit Viet Nam. Meeting the Chairman of the NPC Standing Committee, Zhang Dejiang, the Vietnamese Party leader said as the two countries stepped up the building of socialist States ruled by law, it was critical for their parliaments and parliamentary bodies to tighten practical and effective exchanges and co-operation. Trong said he supported the National Assembly of Viet Nam and the NPC in expanding delegation exchanges and sharing information and legislative experiences. Top adviser On the same day, Trong met Yu Zhengsheng, Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC). Trong congratulated the CPPCC on the success of its third session and predicted the Chinese people would continue to reap even greater achievements by building a well-off society and socialism. The Vietnamese Party leader said the co-operation between the Viet Nam Fatherland Front and the CPPCC had contributed greatly to Viet Nam-China relations. He added he hoped the two organisations would foster their result-oriented partnership during the year marking the 65th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic ties, thus helping with enhancing mutual understanding and consolidating the people-to-people friendship between the two countries. The Chairman of the National Committee of the CPPCC, who is also member of the Communist Party of China Politburo Standing Committee, hailed the visit by the Vietnamese Party General Secretary, saying that it had produced positive outcomes of great importance for the friendship and co-operation between the two Parties and countries. The two sides agreed to maintain efforts to strengthen and enhance the political trust between the two Parties and countries as well as the friendship between the two peoples, while expanding and improving the efficiency of co-operation across all sectors. They reached consensus on the full and strict implementation of agreements reached between leaders of the two countries while effectively managing disputes, maintaining peace and stability towards a healthy and sustainable development of bilateral ties. The CPPCC leader later hosted a banquet in honour of the Vietnamese Party General Secretary and the Vietnamese delegation. The Party General Secretary also met with representatives from the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC), the China-Vietnam Friendship Association and a number of former Chinese experts and diplomats, who worked in Viet Nam, in Beijing yesterday. Viet Nam and China yesterday issued a joint communique to mark Trong's visit to China. Viet Nam's budget carrier VietJet Air also unveiled air routes linking the Southeast Asian country with China on the same day. The air routes will connect the Vietnamese central cities Nha Trang and Da Nang with Hangzhou and Kunming in China. — VNS