In his letter to Chinese leader Xi Jinping, Party General Secretary and President Nguyen Phu Trong hailed progress in bilateral cooperation and friendship over the past year. Continual high-level contacts and interpersonal exchanges together with improved cooperation have promoted the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership between the two countries in a healthy and sustainable manner, the letter said.

Chinese Party General Secretary and President Xi said 2018 marked 10 years of the Vietnam-China comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership, adding that the two neighbors should aim to enhance their traditional friendship, increase exchanges, and strengthen mutual trust and support.

The leaders shared the view that Vietnam and China will work harder to consolidate political trust, promote cooperation, and settle pending issues appropriately as the two countries look to celebrate 50 years of diplomatic ties next year.