BEIJING, April 7 -- Chinese President Xi Jinping and General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Nguyen Phu Trong pledged to cement the traditional friendship and boost the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership between the two countries during talks on Tuesday.

Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, said the China-Vietnam traditional friendship is precious wealth shared by the two parties, the two nations and the people of the two countries, worthy of being cherished and taken good care of.

Recalling their mutual support between the two nations since their fight for national independence, Xi said reciprocal cooperation has brought substantial benefit for the people of the two countries, which also helps to promote peace, development and prosperity in the region.

China and Vietnam share extensive common interests, and friendship and cooperation have remained the primary theme of the bilateral ties, said the Chinese leader.

Xi proposed the two sides always bear in mind the overall situation of China-Vietnam friendship as well as their development, respect each other, consult with each other in a friendly way, seek common ground while shelving differences, and control their disputes to ensure that the bilateral relationship will develop in a right track.

Xi said China and Vietnam are facing both new opportunities and challenges as the international situation is undergoing complex and profound changes. He suggested the two parties, as well as the two countries, boost high-level interactions to find out new solutions to their problems and new ideas to advance the bilateral relationship in a sustained way.

Nguyen also said friendship and cooperation have been the primary themes of the Vietnam-China relationship over the 65 years since the two countries established diplomatic relations.

The brotherly and comradely traditional friendship was formed by late Vietnamese leader Ho Chi Minh and Chinese leader Mao Zedong, which should be inherited, Nguyen said.

Nguyen, who is paying an official visit to China from Tuesday to Friday at Xi's invitation, said the Vietnamese side looks forward to more interaction between the leaders of the two countries to enhance the political trust in each other.

As Vietnam and China are both committed to the great cause of socialism and carrying out all-round reform, they need friendship, reciprocal cooperation and a peaceful environment for development more than ever, said the Vietnamese leader.

Vietnam and China share immense common interests and it is the common obligation of the two sides as well as the common aspiration of the people of the two countries to advance the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership, Nguyen said, adding that it is a strategic choice of Vietnam to develop friendly ties with China in a sustained and stable way.

On the 21st - Century Maritime Silk Road Initiative, Xi said China welcomes Vietnam's participation and Nguyen said Vietnam was studying on it.

The two leaders agreed on making joint efforts to control maritime disputes and safeguard peace and stability in the South China Sea.

Xi voiced China's support for Vietnam to host the Leaders' Meeting of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) in 2017 as well as the building of the ASEAN Community. He also proposed China and Vietnam should make efforts to protect each other's organizations, enterprises and citizens on their territory.

China stands ready to strengthen coordination with Vietnam in international affairs to promote peace, stability and prosperity in the world, Xi said.

The two leaders agreed on closer cooperation on defense, security, law-enforcement, infrastructure construction, culture, education and tourism among others. They witnessed the signing of a string of deals between the two sides, including a five-year plan for the cooperation between the two ruling parties, after their talks at the Great Hall of the People.

After the talks, the two leaders met with a group of Chinese and Vietnamese youngsters and encouraged them to carry forward the traditional friendship between the two nations.

Prior to their talks, Xi held a red-carpet ceremony to welcome the CPV leader. They also visited an exhibition on theoretical exchanges between the two parties.

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