HANOI — China and Vietnam promised to further promote their comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership on Sept 11.

The pledge came during a meeting between Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc and Vice-Premier Hu Chunhua. Hu is in Hanoi to attend the World Economic Forum (WEF) on ASEAN 2018 from Sept 11 to 13.

Hu said the leaders of the two countries have made top-level designs and strategic plans for the development of bilateral ties during their exchange of visits last year.

China is willing to work with Vietnam to follow through on what the leaders of both countries have made so as to move forward China-Vietnam comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership, he stressed.

Noting that China welcomes Phuc leading a delegation to the China International Import Expo (CIIE) to be held in November, Hu said China stands ready to facilitate Vietnamese companies’ participation.

Phuc, for his part, said Hu’s attendance at the WEF not only shows the importance attached by China to the Vietnam-China relations, but also demonstrates the brotherly friendship between the two countries.

The Vietnamese prime minister noted that developing good neighborliness and friendship as well as across-the-board cooperation with China is the top priority for Vietnam.

Vietnam supports and is willing to actively participate in the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative, he said, adding that Vietnam will join hands with China to promote their comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership.

The vice-premier also met with Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong in Hanoi on Sept 11.

Hu said at present China-Singapore relations are enjoying sustained and stable development with cooperation being continuously expanded.

China supports Singapore’s work as the rotating chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), attaches great importance to Singapore’s unique role in the ASEAN, he said.

China is willing to step up synergy of development strategies with ASEAN countries and deepen pragmatic cooperation so as to build an even closer China-ASEAN community of shared future, he added.

Singapore is welcome to actively participate in the CIIE, Hu also noted.

For his part, the Singaporean prime minister said Singapore is willing to work with China to advance the process of negotiations on the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, safeguard free trade and multilateral rules, and promote regional development and prosperity.

Lee added that Singapore will continue to play a constructive role in deepening China-ASEAN relations.