State President Luong Cuong received Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission of China Sen. Lt. Gen. Zhang Youxia in Hanoi on October 25, according to a report from the Vietnam News Agency.

The Vietnamese President was quoted by the news agency as affirming that Vietnam and China are neighbors sharing mountains and rivers and boasting a traditional friendship that features both comradeship and fraternity - a precious common asset of both nations needing to be maintained, inherited, and promoted.

Vietnam always views developing the friendship and cooperation with China as an objective requirement, a strategic choice, and a top priority in its foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, and diversification and multilateralisation of external relations, the President stated.

He noted Vietnam always strongly supports and firmly believes that the Chinese people, under the leadership of the Communist Party of China, with Party General Secretary and President Xi Jinping being the core, will successfully realize the second centenary goal, thus making greater contributions to regional and global peace, stability, cooperation, and development.

General Zhang expressed his delight at his first visit to Vietnam in the position of Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission of China. He congratulated Mr. Cuong on his election as President of Vietnam, as well as on the socio-economic development achievements the country has obtained during nearly 40 years of Doi moi (Renewal).

Both host and guest noted with satisfaction the strong strides in their countries’ relations, especially since the mutual visits by the two Parties’ leaders, during which the Vietnam - China comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership was elevated to build a community with a shared future that carries strategic significance, helping generate tangible benefits for the two countries' people and maintain peace, stability, and development in the region and the world.

President Cuong spoke highly of the outcomes of the talks between the Vietnamese Minister of National Defense and Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission of Vietnam, General Phan Van Giang, and the Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission of China.

Highlighting the progress in bilateral defense ties, the President asked the two countries’ central military commissions and defense ministries to further intensify bilateral defense cooperation through organizing mutual visits at all levels, especially high levels, and effectively maintaining the available cooperation mechanisms.

General Zhang, as quoted by the news agency, said his visit aims to carry out the common perceptions reached by leaders of the two Parties and the two countries while fostering the two armies’ cooperation in national defense and security in an increasingly result-oriented manner.

As Vietnam will celebrate its 80th founding anniversary and the two countries will mark the 75th anniversary of their diplomatic ties in 2025, the two sides will persevere in the path chosen by leaders of the two Parties and countries and enhance collaboration in various fields to build a community with a shared future that carries strategic significance for the sake of their people, according to the Chinese official.