Li Tieying, member of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, said in a speech at the symposium that the great changes in the past 100 years have made Chinese people understand the truth that only socialism can save and develop China.

Li Tieying, also President of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said that in the 21st century, the Chinese people will continue to firmly take Marxism-Leninism, Mao Zedong's Thought and the Deng Xiaoping Theory to guide their whole cause.

Li said that China will further develop exchanges and the friendly cooperation between the two countries and the two communist parties in accordance with the principle of "long-term, stable and good-neighborly relations with comprehensive cooperation oriented to the future" set by leaders of the two sides.

Nguyen Duc Binh, a politburo member of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee, said at the symposium that development and economic growth is a matter of vital importance for Vietnam.

While affirming that Vietnam will continue its process of renovation without hesitation, Binh, who is also the Director of the Ho Chi Minh National Politics Institute, stressed that renovation is by no means to change the goal of socialism.

During the two-day symposium, Chinese and Vietnamese scholars and experts in social sciences and theoretical studies are discussing and exchanging views on topics of Vietnam's economic renovation and China's reforms and opening up, party building under the market economic circumstances, and globalization and international relations.

The first Sino-Vietnam Symposium of Theory was held in Beijing last June.

(Xinhua 11/11/2000)