国内英语新闻:Vietnamese party chief meets Chinese defense minister on ties

HANOI, Oct. 10 (Xinhua) -- General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee Nong Duc Manh met visiting Chinese State Councilor and Defense Minister Liang Guanglie on bilateral ties and military relations here on Sunday.

At the meeting, Manh thanked China and the Chinese people for generous help in the Vietnamese people's struggle for independence and national construction over the past years.

Manh said the development of Vietnam-China relations has maintained momentum in recent years. The two countries have seen frequent high-level exchanges and increasing cooperation in economy, education, technology, military affairs among many other fields.

General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee Nong Duc Manh (R) meets with Chinese Defense Minister Liang Guanglie in Hanoi, capital of Vietnam, Oct. 10, 2010. Liang arrived in Hanoi Sunday to attend a regional security conference and visit Vietnam.

He said the bilateral ties have been lifted to the comprehensive strategic partnership of cooperation. He urged the two sides to carry on the traditional friendship and contribute to the development of bilateral relations.

For his part, Liang said the China-Vietnam relations have developed in a steady way in recent years, contributing to the social and economic development of the two countries.

Liang said military ties are an important part of the China-Vietnam relations. The Chinese military is ready to join hands with the Vietnamese military to strengthen understanding and trust, boost cooperation, enhance capacity to tackle security challenges and further promote the development of bilateral military ties.

Earlier on Sunday, Liang held talks with his Vietnamese counterpart Phung Quang Thanh on deepening bilateral military cooperation.

Liang arrived here on Sunday for an official and friendly visit. He is scheduled to attend the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Defense Ministers' Meeting Plus slated for Tuesday.