国内英语新闻:Vietnam, China vow to further bilateral relations

HONG KONG, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) -- Vietnamese and Chinese officials said here Monday that they will make joint efforts to further cement ties between the two countries, and ties between Vietnam and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR).

The officials made the remarks at a reception, hosted by Vietnam's Consulate General in the HKSAR, to mark the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the Socialist Republic of Vietnam and the People's Republic of China.

"The establishment of the diplomatic relations between the two countries on Jan. 18, 1950 is a splendid milestone in the development of relations between the two countries," said Pham Cao Phong, consul-general of Vietnam in the HKSAR.

He said that the Chinese government and Chinese people have provided great support and assistance to Vietnam in its struggle for independence and freedom as well as its reform and modernization drive.

On behalf of the Vietnamese government, the consul-general extended sincere gratitude to the Chinese government and the Chinese people for their support to Vietnam.

He said that in recent years, relations between the two countries have developed rapidly, with cooperation in political, economic, cultural and other sectors further deepened.

The year of 2010 marks the first year of the founding of ASEAN-- China Free Trade Area, and the year has also been named the Year of Vietnam-China Friendship, which Pham said will "bring relations of the two countries into a new spring."

Over the past six decades, the political relations between the two countries have become mature, with the deepening of bilateral cooperation in various sectors, said Lu Xinhua, commissioner of the Chinese Foreign Ministry in the HKSAR, at the reception.

Lu said that he hoped the two countries will carry on what has been achieved in their bilateral relations, further promote mutual trust, deepen cooperation and consolidate good neighborly relations to open a new chapter for the relations between the two countries.