China and Vietnam need to strengthen unity and cooperation and deepen their traditional friendship, Li Jinai, a senior Chinese military officer, said in Beijing Tuesday.

Li, a member of the Central Committee Military Commission, made the remarks while receiving a high-level Vietnamese military delegation headed by the country's naval political commissar, Tran Thanh Huyen.

Li said the friendship between China and Vietnam is solid and has withstood the test of time.

The China-Vietnam comprehensive strategic partnership of cooperation is developing soundly while cooperation in various sectors is fruitful, he added.

He also said cooperation and exchange between the two sides'armed forces have achieved good results.

Advancing bilateral ties is in line with the fundamental interests of the two peoples, as well as being conducive to peace, stability and development in the region, he said.

Tran said Vietnam attaches great importance to bilateral friendship with China.

Vietnam has made the development of links between the two countries and their military forces a priority, he said.

Vietnam hopes to enhance bilateral cooperation and exchange with China in all fields, he added.