Top Chinese legislator meets Vietnamese president

BEIJING - Top Chinese legislator Zhang Dejiang met here Thursday afternoon with Vietnamese President Truong Tan Sang.

During the meeting, Zhang, chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC), said the important consensus reached between Chinese President Xi Jinping and Sang has added fresh impetus to the long-term development of China-Vietnam relations.

Xi and Sang held talks in Beijing Wednesday. They reached consensus on strengthening mutually beneficial cooperation and advancing bilateral relations in a healthy and stable way.

Zhang said as an important part of bilateral relations, the NPC and the National Assembly of Vietnam will further increase exchanges. He said the two sides will enhance the role of the China-Vietnam friendship panel between the legislatures, encourage friendly contact between young parliamentarians and share experience in the development of the socialist legal system.

Zhang said the NPC is ready to join with the Vietnamese side to advance the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries in a continuous and extensive way.

Sang said the Vietnamese side places great importance on bilateral relations. He said Vietnam is ready to continue to deepen mutual trust and advance mutually beneficial cooperation between the two countries.

The Vietnamese side will actively strengthen exchanges between the National Assembly and the NPC so as to advance friendly relations between the two countries.