Managing differences amid collaboration stressed

President Xi Jinping has called on China and Vietnam to advance pragmatic cooperation and effectively manage their problems and differences.

Xi, who is also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remark in Hanoi on Wednesday during a meeting with Vuong Dinh Hue, chairman of the National Assembly of Vietnam.

Xi said that under the new circumstances, the two sides should keep perceiving China-Vietnam relations from a strategic and long-term perspective, and move forward steadfastly along the path of friendship and cooperation.

He said the two sides should earnestly summarize the good traditions and practices in developing China-Vietnam relations, strengthen high-level strategic communication, and have intensive exchanges of experiences in governing the party and the country.

The two sides should explore ways to enrich the theory and practice of socialist construction, "safeguard the common strategic interests of the two sides", and ensure that bilateral ties are always on the right track, he said.

Speaking of bilateral pragmatic cooperation, Xi said the two countries are at a key stage of reform and development, and mutually beneficial cooperation has inherent advantages and is a real need.

He called for the two sides to further realize the outcomes of his visit to Vietnam and strengthen cooperation in areas such as connectivity, production and supply chains and the green economy, in order to "boost the sense of gain among the peoples of the two countries".

On problems and differences between the nations, Xi said it is necessary to "translate into concrete actions the understanding and the willingness of the two sides at the high level".

He called on Beijing and Hanoi to advance cooperation while managing differences. Efforts should be made to "steadily advance maritime cooperation, especially joint development", he said.

This year marks the 15th anniversary of the establishment of the China-Vietnam comprehensive strategic partnership.

Hue accorded Xi a warm welcome on behalf of the Vietnamese people. He said the National Assembly of Vietnam will earnestly implement the key consensuses reached by the general secretaries of the CPC Central Committee and the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee, and strengthen exchanges and cooperation with the National People's Congress, China's top legislature, in areas such as rule of law and anti-corruption.

Vietnam's National Assembly will further seek consensus of people from all walks of life, consolidate the traditional friendship and strategic mutual trust between the two countries, and cement the foundation of public support for the building of a Vietnam-China community with a shared future, Hue said.

It is believed that the CPC and China, as a major responsible Party and country in the world, will make greater contributions to promoting world peace and development, he added.

In recent years, the NPC and Vietnam's National Assembly have maintained effective contacts and strengthened exchanges and cooperation at all levels.

Xi expressed the hope that the two legislative bodies will continue to deepen exchanges and cooperation, and learn from each other's useful experiences in legislation and supervision.