“I attach great importance to the development of ties between the two countries,” Xi wrote in a letter sent to Nguyen Phu Trong, leader of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV), to thank him for sending a condolence message for the death of former CPC leader and former President Jiang Zemin.

In the letter, the Chinese president reminded that Jiang and Vietnamese leaders promoted the normalization of relations between the two countries and established a 16-word guideline: “good-neighborly friendship, comprehensive cooperation, long-term stability, and future orientation” with a profound influence on the development of the bilateral ties.

He also noted Phu Trong’s recent visit to Beijing, during which “we discussed the main directions for the development of China-Vietnam relations and reached important common perceptions,” states the text, reproduced in full extent by Nhan Danh.

Phu Trong was the first foreign leader China received after the 20th Congress of its Communist Party.

The neighboring country was the first nation to which Vietnam’s top leader traveled following the 13th National Congress of the CPV as an evidence to the importance that both nations confer to their ties.

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