Beijing, Hanoi send New Year greetings

As China and Vietnam embrace the traditional Spring Festival, President Xi Jinping and Nguyen Phu Trong, general secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee, exchanged festive greetings through letters on Saturday.

Xi, who is also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, extended "most sincere greetings and blessings" for Spring Festival to Trong, his party, the Vietnamese government and the Vietnamese people on behalf of the CPC, the Chinese government and the Chinese people.

Trong wished the CPC continued growth, the People's Republic of China prosperity and the Chinese people a happy and peaceful New Year.

Xi said that everything takes on a new look at the beginning of the New Year, and he is ready to stay in close communication with Trong and jointly steer the course for the sustained, sound and steady development of China-Vietnam relations.

China and Vietnam are "a community with a shared future that bears strategic significance", and Vietnam is a priority in China's neighborhood diplomacy, Xi said.

Beijing is ready to work together with Hanoi to enhance the synergy of their development strategies, deepen practical cooperation in various fields, enhance communication and coordination in international and regional affairs, and make contributions to advancing the noble cause of peace and development of mankind, Xi added.

In his message, Trong said he is ready to work with Xi to guide the departments and sub-national authorities of both sides to implement the agreements and consensus reached during his visit to China last year.

He said he is prepared to conduct strategic communications on the theories and practices of socialist construction of the two countries, and chart the course and set out strategic plans to bring the relations between the two parties and the two countries to higher levels.

Looking back on the past year, Xi noted that 2022 was "of crucial importance to the development of both parties as well as both countries", and also a milestone for China-Vietnam ties.

About one week after the conclusion of the 20th CPC National Congress in October, Trong was among the first foreign leaders to visit China. Xi held a grand ceremony in Trong's honor and awarded him the Friendship Medal of the People's Republic of China. The two nations also issued a joint statement on further strengthening and deepening their comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership.

Relevant departments and local bodies of both parties and both countries are earnestly implementing the broad consensus that was reached, Xi noted in his message.

By doing so, China and Vietnam will consolidate their mutual political trust and traditional friendship, and improve the well-being of their peoples, he added.