On December 21, 2011, visiting Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, held talks with Vietnamese President Truong Tan Sang.

Xi first conveyed the cordial greetings from President Hu Jintao. He said that under the leadership of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV), the Vietnamese people have adhered to socialism, actively explored a development path that suits the country's own conditions and advanced the reforms in an all-around way, gaining progress and prosperity. He said under the leadership of the CPV, the Vietnamese people will surely make new and greater progress in the reforms.

Since the normalization of bilateral relations 20 years ago, Xi said, China-Vietnam relations have made steady progress due to three major reasons.

First, similar sufferings in history laid the foundation for China-Vietnam relations. The traditional friendship forged during revolutionary times involved the wisdom and painstaking efforts of the older generations of leaders of the two parties. It is both countries' joint responsibility to carry on the friendship from generation to generation.

Second, extensive mutual interests laid the political foundation for China-Vietnam relations. Adhering to the socialist path, consolidating the basis for the Communist Party of China and CPV to govern their respective countries are our common strategic objectives, and the important political basis for maintaining mutual strategic interests.

Third, the same development goals made the basis for cooperation. Both China and Vietnam are at a critical time of reforms or renovations, with sustainable social and economic development being the common challenge. Recently, instability appeared in the international financial market, uncertainties have been accumulating for the recovery of world economy. Under these circumstances, China and Vietnam must pull together in times of trouble to overcome difficulties, so as to seize the opportunities and meet the challenges.

Xi said that the Communist Party of China (CPC) and Chinese government have always viewed China-Vietnam relations from a strategic and long-term perspective. China is ready to work with the Vietnamese side to strengthen strategic communication and exchange views on bilateral ties and other major issues of common concern, Xi said. The Chinese vice president called for more efforts to develop and deliver the joint action plan on a comprehensive strategic partnership of cooperation to lift the mutually beneficial cooperation in various fields. China will remain committed to settling differences in a proper manner so as to secure a sustained strategic partnership which is sound and stable, Xi said.

Truong Tan Sang, on his part, said Xi's visit comes as another important high-level exchange between the two countries, following Vietnamese Communist Party Chief Nguyen Phu Trong's visit to China in October, and will help produce important consensus between the two countries' top leaders. Truong Tan Sang said Vietnam will, as always, see China as a great friend and will never forget the deep traditional friendship between the two countries as well as the sincere support and aids offered by the CPC, Chinese government and its people. He urged both sides to shoulder the historical task of inheriting and developing Vietnam-China traditional friendship. He also voiced hope that the two sides could further strengthen high-level contacts and intensify their mutually beneficial cooperation in various fields, bringing their bilateral ties to a higher level.