'General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong is a great friend of China'

On the afternoon of July 25, President To Lam and Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh received Mr. Wang Huning, member of the Politburo Standing Committee and Chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference.

Mr. Wang Huning is the special representative of General Secretary and President Xi Jinping, leading the delegation of the Chinese Party and State to attend the State Funeral of General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong.

At the meeting with Mr. Vuong Huning, President To Lam sincerely thanked the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China for sending a message of condolences with profound content and General Secretary and President Xi Jinping for personally coming to the Vietnamese Embassy to pay his respects and sign the condolence book for General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong.

President To Lam emphasized that General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong is an exceptionally outstanding leader, a loyal and prestigious Party member who has devoted his entire life and made many great contributions to the revolutionary cause of the Party, the Fatherland and the Vietnamese people. The General Secretary always takes care to foster friendly relations with countries around the world, especially with the Party, State and people of China.

Mr. Wang Huning reiterated General Secretary and President Xi Jinping's assessment of General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong.

Accordingly, General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong is a staunch Marxist, an outstanding leader of Vietnam, a close comrade and great friend of China, who has made many great and especially important contributions to the development of relations between the two Parties and the two countries. He affirmed that this is also a representative assessment of all members of the Communist Party of China and the 1.4 billion Chinese people.

The passing of General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong is not only a great loss for the Party, State and people of Vietnam, but also a loss for the Party, State and people of China, as well as for the cause of peace and progress of humanity.

China believes that Vietnam will turn its pain into action and continue to gain new and greater achievements. China will always stand shoulder to shoulder with Vietnam and support the cause of innovation and the building of socialism in Vietnam...

Mr. Wang Huning affirmed that China considers Vietnam a priority and a strategic choice in its neighborly foreign policy. President To Lam emphasized that Vietnam attaches importance to and gives top priority to relations with China in its overall foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, multilateralization and diversification.

The two sides agreed to continue to closely follow, thoroughly grasp and effectively implement the important common perception between General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and General Secretary and President Xi Jinping. In particular, continuously deepening and elevating the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership and building a community of shared future between Vietnam and China is of strategic significance.

The two sides agreed to continue to maintain regular high-level exchanges and contacts in the coming time.

During the meeting with Mr. Wang Huning, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh highly appreciated the fact that the Chinese press, media, and public figures in recent days have written many articles and comments expressing their respect and infinite condolences for General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong.

The Prime Minister emphasized that this demonstrates the high regard and special affection of the Party, State and people of China for the relationship between the two Parties and two countries as well as the contributions of General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong to the Vietnam-China relationship.

Reviewing the special marks of General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and General Secretary and President Xi Jinping on Vietnam-China relations, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh affirmed that Vietnam consistently considers developing long-term friendship, cooperation and stability with China an objective requirement, a strategic choice and a top priority in foreign policy.

Vietnam is ready to work with China to effectively implement the high-level common perception in line with the "6 more" orientation identified by General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and General Secretary and President Xi Jinping...

Mr. Wang Huning expressed the deep sorrow and condolences of the Chinese Party, State and people for General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong.

He stressed that China firmly supports Vietnam in following a development path suitable to Vietnam's situation and continuing to promote the cause of building socialism. He also believes that the traditional friendship and comprehensive cooperation between the two Parties and countries will continue to develop.