Hanoi (VNA) –Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son hosted a reception for Liu Ning, Secretary ofthe Party Committee of the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, in Hanoi on March30, discussing a wide range of issues to boost ties between the two sides.

The two sides shareddelight at the sound development of the Vietnam-China relations over the years,especially after Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong’s visit to China last year.

They agreed that thesuccess of the visit has given a strong impetus to the growth of thetraditional friendship between the two Parties and the comprehensive strategiccooperative partnership between the two countries.

Underlining the roleand significance of local cooperation in the overall relations between the twocountries, the two sides held that the fruitful collaboration between Vietnameselocalities and Guangxi is a bright spot in the bilateral relations.

Son affirmed thatVietnam always treasures the friendly neighbourliness and comprehensivestrategic cooperative partnership with China, considering the ties as a toppriority in the country’s foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, multilateralisationand diversification. He thanked Guangxi for providing medical equipment toVietnam to support the country in fighting the COVID-19 pandemic.

He suggested that thetwo sides increase visits and meetings among sectors and agencies at alllevels, and roll out measures to further enhance the efficiency of customsclearance process, thus maintaining the smooth supply chain and trade activities, increasing the volume of Vietnamese goods transiting China to thirdcountries by rail through the Dong Dang (Vietnam) - Ping Xian (China) border gate.

The two sides shouldwork closely together to complete the procedures to upgrade a number of bordergate pairs and open new ones, while strengthening collaboration in managing andensuring border security, thus facilitating friendship exchanges and travelingactivities between the two countries, and building a shared border of peace,stability, cooperation and development.

For his part, Liubriefed his host on the socio-economic situation of Guangxi, affirming that thelocality pays special attention to the friendship and win-win cooperation with ministries,sectors and localities of Vietnam, and hopes to work with Vietnam to realisecommon perceptions reached by senior leaders of the two Parties and nations,thus further deepening the relationship between the two countries.

He asked for Vietnam’ssupport to the organisation of the 20th China-ASEAN Expo (CAEXPO) inGuangxi, and pledged that the Chinese locality will coordinate with theVietnamese side to organise the Spring meeting for provincial Party Committees’secretaries and the 15th meeting of the joint working group ofGuangxi and Vietnamese provinces of Ha Giang, Quang Ninh, Lang Son and Cao Bangin Guangxi in 2024.

The Chinese official also raised a number of proposals related to cooperation in variousareas such as transport infrastructure connections, customs clearancefacilitation, tourism, and people-to-people exchange./.