Hanoi (VNA) – The official visit of Chairwoman of the National Assembly(NA) Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan to China, starting July 8, demonstrates the importancethat Vietnam attaches to the cooperation between the two countries’ legislativebodies. 

Vietnamand China set up their diplomatic ties on January 18, 1950. Since then, the twosides have maintained regular high-level visits and meetings, thus helpingintensify political trust, effectively solve arising problems and develop thebilateral relations in a stable and sustainable manner.

It isnoteworthy that in 2015 and 2017, the Party leaders of the two countries mademutual visits within the same year. In 2018, Vietnamese Prime Minister NguyenXuan Phuc met Chinese Party General Secretary and President Xi Jinping on the occasionof China's first International Import Expo in Shanghai, and met his Chinesecounterpart Li Keqiang twice on the sidelines of the Mekong-Lancang Summit inCambodia and the 12th Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) Summit in Belgium.In April 2019, PM Phuc attended the Belt and Road Forum for InternationalCooperation in Beijing.

Therelationship between the two legislative bodies has also been strengthened overthe years, with the exchange of many high-level visits in the past five years,including those made by Vietnamese National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hungin December 2015, Chairman of the Standing Committee of the NationalPeople's Congress (NPC) of China Zhang Dejiang in November 2016,and Vice Chairman of the Vietnamese NA Do Ba Ty in December 2017. Vice Chairmanof the Standing Committee of the NPC of China Chen Zhu attended the 26th AnnualMeeting of the Asia-Pacific Parliamentary Forum (APPF-26) in Hanoi in Januarylast year.

At these high-level meetings, both countries’ leadersemphasised that the traditional friendship, nurtured by Presidents Ho Chi Minhand Mao Zedong and generations of leaders, is a valuable asset of both Parties,States and peoples. They all affirmed to develop the relations intensively, andcontinue to give each other support in the renewal and socialism building causein each nation.

Economic cooperation continues to be a bright spot in thebilateral relations. Chinais currently the biggest trade partner of Vietnam, while the latter is theformer’s biggest trade partner in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations(ASEAN).

Two-waytrade hit 106.7 billion USD in 2018, up 13.8 percent year on year. In the firstfour months of this year, the turnover reached 33.24 billion USD, up 11.58percent against the same period last year.

As oflate May, China had 2,387 valid investment projects totalling 15.1 billion USDin Vietnam, ranking seventh out of 131 nations and territories pouring capitalin the Southeast Asian nation.

DuringJanuary-April, 1.3 million Chinese tourists visited Vietnam. Each year, over 1million Vietnamese people choose China as the destination for their holiday.

Forsea-related issues, the two sides have maintained regular discussions atall-level meetings. They have signed an agreement on basic principles guidingthe settlement of sea related issues and reached numerous common perceptions oncontrolling disputes and maintaining peace and stability in the East Sea.

Theupcoming official visit to China by the Vietnamese top legislator is expectedto contribute to strengthening political trust, speeding up the implementationof common perceptions and signed agreements, and effectively carrying outagreements, programmes and projects between the Vietnamese NA and the NationalPeople’s Congress of China.

On thisoccasion, both sides are expected to discuss measures to boost all-roundcooperation in politics, economics, security, defence and education, and to enhancecooperation at multilateral forums, and exchange views on international issuesof shared concern.-VNA