CRI听力:China, Vietnam Defense Chiefs Meet on Border

The meeting was held on Friday in Vietnam's city of Lao Cai that borders Yunnan province.

This is the second high-level border dialogue between the Chinese and Vietnamese militaries.

The meeting was co-chaired by Chinese State Councilor and Defense Minister Chang Wanquan and his Vietnamese counterpart Phung Quang Thanh.

Chang says the bilateral friendship has withstood challenges posed by the changing international situation, adding that China will uphold the principles of the relationship as well as the spirit of "Good Neighbors, Good Friends, Good Comrades and Good Partners."

He noted that China cherishes the relationship and will implement the important consensus reached by Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, and his Vietnamese counterpart, Nguyen Phu Trong.

For his part, Phung Quang Thanh spoke highly of the meeting in its role promoting bilateral ties.

"This is the first meeting between the defense ministers of the two countries in the border area since the establishment of bilateral ties 65 years ago. Vietnam attaches great importance both to the bilateral friendship and partnership."

Thanh says Vietnam is ready to work with China to promote cooperation in various fields, including between the two militaries, and make new contributions to ensuring regional peace and stability.

Thanh also extended an invitation to Chang to visit Vietnam and Chang accepted.

Following the meeting, there was a symposium on China-Vietnam friendship between the two militaries.

Qi Jianguo, deputy chief of General Staff of the Chinese military, called for more focus on the "big picture of bilateral ties"

"Only with bilateral ties kept in-mind can we find more common ground. Only with the adherence to the 'win-win' philosophy can we carry forward the traditional friendship. This meeting should send a signal not only to the two peoples but also the world that China and Vietnam will make permanent efforts for peace."

Vo Trong Viet, commander of Vietnamese border guards, suggested enhanced exchanges and cooperation between border troops to aid the crackdown on drugs and human trafficking.

China and Vietnam are trying to cool tensions over disputes in the South China Sea.

When CPV general secretary Nguyen Phu Trong visited Beijing last month, President Xi Jinping suggested the two countries find new solutions to current problems and new ideas to advance the bilateral relationship in a sustained way.

For CRI, I'm Min Rui.