General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and General Secretary and President of China Xi Jinping held talks right after the official welcoming ceremony on the afternoon of December 12. General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong emphasized that the visit demonstrated General Secretary and President Xi Jinping's special affection for the tradition of friendship, the current stature of bilateral relations as well as the bright prospects for the relationship between the two countries in the coming time. At the same time, the General Secretary believed that the visit was a new historical milestone, bringing the relationship between the two Parties and two countries to a new height, meeting the aspirations and common interests of the people of the two countries, for peace, cooperation and development of the region and the world. Message of trust and development Sharing about the situation in Vietnam, General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong said that the 13th National Party Congress assessed that the country has never had such a foundation, potential, position and international prestige as it does today. During the first half of the 13th National Congress, in the context of difficulties and challenges that were more severe and complicated than expected, Vietnam has strived and achieved important and quite comprehensive results in all fields. The General Secretary also affirmed the consistent foreign policy of the Party and State of Vietnam: independence, self-reliance, peace, friendship, cooperation and development, diversification and multilateralization of foreign relations as well as the "4 no's" defense policy; proactively and actively integrating comprehensively and deeply into the international community. Vietnam is a friend, a reliable partner and an active and responsible member of the international community. Affirming that developing relations with China is a top priority and a strategic choice, the General Secretary said that Vietnam supports socialist China to develop strongly, making increasingly important contributions to the cause of peace and progress of humanity.

General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong entered talks with General Secretary and President of China Xi Jinping on the afternoon of December 12 (Photo: Dinh Trong Hai).

Sharing his joy in visiting Vietnam again and his emotion at meeting General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong again, General Secretary and President of China Xi Jinping affirmed that the Party, Government and people of China highly value the relationship with Vietnam, considering Vietnam a priority direction in its neighborly diplomacy. Mr. Xi also affirmed that China firmly supports Vietnam's cause of building socialism, supports Vietnam's prosperous development and the happiness of its people. Recalling the recent event of General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong visiting the Friendship border gate and planting a friendship tree, Mr. Xi Jinping affirmed that this event sent a message of trust and development in the relationship between the two Parties, the two countries and the two peoples.

Overview of the talks between the two high-ranking delegations of Vietnam and China (Photo: Dinh Trong Hai).

Looking back at the development of the relationship between the two Parties and countries, the two leaders agreed that the traditional friendship of comradeship and brotherhood, personally established and cultivated by President Ho Chi Minh, Chairman Mao Zedong and previous leaders, is a valuable asset of the people of the two countries and needs to be continuously inherited and promoted. From the high regard for the relationship between the two Parties and countries, with the achievements of the Comprehensive Strategic Cooperative Partnership over the past 15 years and in the face of new requirements, the two sides agreed to build a Vietnam-China Community of Shared Future of strategic significance, striving for the happiness of the people of the two countries, for peace and progress of humanity. Vietnam - China signed 36 cooperation agreements. According to the above-mentioned orientations and principles, Vietnam and China agreed to continuously consolidate political trust, increase exchanges between high-ranking leaders of the two Parties and two countries through diverse and flexible forms, and promote the strategic orientation role of Party channel relations for the overall bilateral relationship. The two sides agreed to strengthen defense and security cooperation more substantially, becoming one of the pillars of the bilateral relationship; promote more sustainable and deeper economic, trade and investment cooperation. Along with that, Vietnam and China will strengthen education on the traditional relationship between the two Parties and two countries, promote the building of a more solid social foundation for bilateral relations; strengthen closer multilateral coordination, for the interests of the two countries and actively contribute to the common interests of the international community.

General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong affirmed the consistent foreign policy of the Party and State of Vietnam is independence, self-reliance, peace, friendship, cooperation and development (Photo: Dinh Trong Hai).

Regarding maritime issues, the two leaders had in-depth and frank exchanges of opinions, emphasizing the need to better control and actively resolve maritime disputes, maintaining peace and stability in the East Sea and the region. General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong suggested that both sides implement well the high-level common perceptions, respect each other's legitimate and legal interests, not further complicate the situation, and resolve disputes by peaceful means in accordance with international law. General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong emphasized that in the context of complicated developments in the international and regional situation, it is important that countries jointly implement a policy of peace, cooperation and development, comply with international law, respect equality and each other's legitimate interests, resolve disputes by peaceful means, and not threaten or use force in international relations.

General Secretary and President of China Xi Jinping affirmed that China supports Vietnam's cause of building socialism (Photo: Dinh Trong Hai).

Agreeing with the opinion of General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, the General Secretary and President of China emphasized that the two sides should jointly direct and thoroughly grasp the spirit and determination of the entire Party, people and army of the two countries. This is to promote the development of Vietnam - China relations in a more solid, stable, sustainable and effective manner at a new height of the Comprehensive Strategic Cooperative Partnership. After the high-level talks, General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and General Secretary and President of China Xi Jinping reviewed and listened to the introduction of 36 cooperation agreements in many fields, signed between ministries, sectors and localities of the two countries, demonstrating the rich and comprehensive achievements that the two sides have achieved during this visit.

General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and General Secretary and President of China Xi Jinping look at the documents signed between the two sides (Photo: Dinh Trong Hai).

General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong respectfully invited and joined General Secretary and President of China Xi Jinping to attend a tea party. In a joyful, warm and friendly atmosphere, the two General Secretaries recalled memories of previous meetings and exchanges; listened to an introduction to famous Vietnamese tea products and the unique tea-drinking ritual of the Vietnamese people, demonstrating the cultural similarities between the two nations. In the evening of the same day, General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and his wife, President Vo Van Thuong and his wife held a solemn reception to welcome General Secretary and President of China Xi Jinping and his wife on a state visit to Vietnam.