Chinese Vice-President Zeng Qinghong met in Suzhou with former member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of Vietnam Phan Dien on Friday, pledging to facilitate closer bilateral ties.

Hailing the progress of party exchanges and overall bilateral ties, Zeng said China-Vietnam traditional friendship which was nurtured by leaders of the old generations including late Chinese top leader Mao Zedong and late Vietnamese leader Ho Chi Minh, is the precious wealth of the two peoples.

It is a fixed policy of China to develop good-neighborly and all-round cooperative ties with Vietnam, Zeng said.

Under the new circumstances, both countries face new opportunities for development, he said, adding he believes the two countries' new leadership would inherit and carry on China-Vietnam traditional friendship and push forward bilateral ties to a new stage.

Zeng expressed appreciation for Phan Dien's efforts to promote bilateral friendship, and congratulated Vietnam's great achievements in its development.

He also briefed Phan Dien about the just-concluded 17th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC).

In response, Phan Dien said China's 17th party congress was a very successful conference which attracted the attention of the world. The CPC had sent a high-profile delegation to Vietnam soon after the congress was concluded, which fully demonstrated the brotherhood of the two ruling parties and the two peoples, he added.

The CPC had put forward some new concepts at its 17th party congress including the scientific outlook on development and harmonious society, he said, adding these innovative ideas would promote all-round development in various sectors of China and also serve as guidance for Vietnam.

(Xinhua News Agency November 3, 2007)