International: China is ready to work with Vietnam to further expand bilateral trade and enhance its quality, Chinese Premier Li Qiang said during a phone conversation with Vietnamese Prime Minister Li Minh Hung on Monday.

Li Qiang noted that during the April visit to China by To Lam, General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee and President of Vietnam, Chinese President Xi Jinping held important discussions with the Vietnamese leader. The two sides reached significant consensus on building a China-Vietnam community with a shared future of strategic significance.

According to the Chinese premier, government departments and local authorities of both countries have actively implemented the outcomes of the visit, achieving positive progress in several areas.

Highlighting the longstanding friendship between the two neighbors, Li said China has consistently given priority to Vietnam in its neighborhood diplomacy. Guided by the strategic direction of the leaders of both countries, China will continue to strengthen mutual trust and solidarity, expand cooperation, and promote common development and prosperity.

Li also called for the successful implementation of initiatives such as the China-Vietnam Year of Tourism Cooperation, the advancement of people-oriented small-scale projects, the proper management of maritime differences, and the further strengthening of friendship between the two peoples.

For his part, Vietnamese Prime Minister Li Minh Hung said Vietnam-China relations are currently maintaining strong momentum. He stressed that the Vietnamese Party and government attach great importance to friendship with China and regard the development of ties with Beijing as one of the top priorities of the country`s foreign policy.

He expressed Vietnam`s readiness to work closely with China to implement the consensus reached by the two countries` leaders, maintain high-level exchanges, align development strategies, and expand cooperation in trade, transportation infrastructure, tourism, education, healthcare, and local-level exchanges.

Li Minh Hung also welcomed increased investment and business activities by Chinese enterprises in Vietnam, pledging to provide a favorable environment for their operations. He further reaffirmed Vietnam`s support for China in hosting this year`s APEC summit.

Source and Photo: Xinhua News Agency.