Li Peng, chairman of the Standing Committee of China's National People's Congress (NPC), met Saturday morning with Vice Chairman of the Vietnamese National Assembly (VNA) Mai Thuc Lan and his party in Beidaihe, Hebei Province.
Extending a welcome, Li spoke highly of the important role played by the VNA in promoting Sino-Vietnamese friendship in the past years.
He voiced his pleasure at the important progress scored, under the guidance of the principles set by the general secretaries of the two communist parties, in the development of relations between the two countries and the two parties, as well as the increasing exchanges in various fields and at different levels between the two sides.
Li listed the principles as "long-term, stable, future-oriented, good-neighborly friendship and all-round cooperation."
The two countries have also kept close cooperation in regional and international affairs, added Li, noting that China is pleased with the steady and healthy development of bilateral ties.
Voicing that China and Vietnam have similar conditions and identical social systems, Li pointed out that continuous consolidation and development of bilateral good-neighborly friendship are the firm policies pursued by the Chinese Communist Party and the Chinese government.
He said he is convinced that under the direction of the joint statement of the two countries, bilateral friendship and cooperation in various fields will be further strengthened in the new century.
At the request of the visitors, Li briefed them on the organization, election, legislation and supervision of China's people's congress.
Li went on to say that in the past few years, the NPC and the VNA have kept frequent and good cooperation and exchanges, and the NPC will continue to work with the VNA to learn from each other in the building of socialist democracy and legal system.
Mai pointed to the warm reception his delegation received during their visits to China's economically developed areas including Shenzhen, Guangzhou and Shanghai before arriving in Beijing.
He spoke highly of China's economic progress and changes, adding that Beijing's success in its bid to host the 2008 Olympic Games fully demonstrates the acceptance of China's international status and role by the international community.
He also noted that Vietnam treasures bilateral friendship cultivated by Chairman Mao Zedong and President Ho Chi Minh, and it appreciates the important progress made in the past few years in the development of relations between the two parties and the two countries.
The VNA attaches importance to its friendship and cooperation with China's people's congress, and will strengthen exchanges with the Chinese side, noted Mai.
The Vietnamese side is ready to learn from China's experiences in legislation and supervision, pointed out Mai.
He conveyed Vietnamese Communist Party General-Secretary Nong Duc Manh's and VNA Chairman Nguyen Van An's greetings to Li, saying that they are expecting Li's visit to the country in the near future.
Li asked Mai to pass on his regards to Nong and Nguyen and said he is also looking forward to the visit.
The delegation started its visit to China on July 31 at the invitation of the NPC Standing Committee.
(Xinhua News Agency 08/05/2001)
