On November 9, the China-Vietnam People’s Friendship Meeting jointly hosted by CPAFFC and Vietnam union of Friendship Organizations (VUFO) was held in Hanoi, Vietnam. H.E. Mr. Zhang Dejiang, Member of the Standing Committee of CPC Central Committee Political Bureau and Chairperson of NPC Standing Committee, who was on an official friendly visit to Vietnam, and Mr. Nguyen Thien Nhan, Member of the Vietnam Communist Party Central Committee Political Bureau and Chairman of the Vietnam Fatherland Front People’s Committee attended the meeting and delivered speeches respectively. CPAFFC President Li Xiaolin and VUFO Executive Vice President Don Tuan Phong co-hosted the meeting.

The theme of the Meeting is “Promoting Friendly Cooperation and People-to-People Exchanges between China and Vietnam Local Governments”. The participants included Mr. Mao Chaofeng, Member of the Standing Committee of CPC Hainan Provincial Committee and Executive Vice Governor of Hainan province, Vice Governor Wang Shujian of Shangdong province, Vice Govenor Zhang Xiaoqin of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Vice Governor Lan Fo’an of Guangdong Province, Vice Governor Yang Hongbo of Sichuan Province, Vice Governor Gao Shuxun of Yunnan province and Mayor Zhou Hongbo of Nanning city from China and leaders of Hanoi city, Ho Chi Minh city as well as the provinces of Lao Cai, Lang Son, Cao Bang, Ha Giang, Nghe An, Khanh Hoa and Quang Ninh from Vietnam.

Chairperson Zhang Dejiang said that to deepen the friendly exchanges and expand the comprehensive cooperation between China and Vietnam is conducive to the strategic interests of the two sides. China and Vietnam should enhance the people-to-people exchanges and promote the cooperation at the local government level to cement the foundation of people’s support for the bilateral relations. The provinces and cities from both countries especially the neighboring ones should make full advantages of their geographic locations and conduct the cooperation in a broader range and step up efforts in cooperation between friendship provinces and cities. The friendship associations from the two sides should set up more innovative and pragmatic platforms in this regard. Zhang Dejiang hoped that the relevant government organs, local governments and personnel from all circles would make the concerted efforts to strengthen cooperation, further people-to-people friendship and build up a closer China-Vietnam community of common destiny.

Nguyen Thien Nhan said that Vietnam and China are friendly neighbors linked by mountains and rivers and the amicable feelings between the two peoples enjoyed a time-honored history. The Vietnam side has always attached great importance to the Vietnam-China relations and is willing to inherit and strengthen the traditional friendship and carry it forward to a bright future. Nguyen Thien Nhan said that the provinces and cities of the two countries should take this meeting as a good opportunity to enhance the mutual understanding and trust, expand cooperation in economic and trade, investment, tourism and so on, and contribute to bringing the Vietnam-China comprehensive strategic partnership to a new level.

Leaders from Chinese and Vietnamese local governments introduced the current situations of bilateral cooperation with their counterparts and expressed the willingness of more mutual visits, more economic and trade cooperation, people-to-people exchanges and establishment of friendship provinces and cities between the two sides.

On the evening of November 8, President Li Xiaolin and Chinese local government leaders also attended the welcome banquet in honor of Chairperson Zhang Dejiang hosted by Mme. Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan, Chairwoman of the National Assembly of Vietnam.