HANOI — China and Vietnam pledged on Sept 12 to further develop the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership between the two countries in the new era.

While meeting with General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee Nguyen Phu Trong, Vice-Premier Hu Chunhua said the leaders of the two countries have made the top-level design and strategic plans for the further development of bilateral ties in the new era.

China is willing to work together with Vietnam to implement the important consensus reached between the leaders of the two countries so as to further develop the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership between the two countries.

China and Vietnam have the same political systems and similar development paths, and unity, friendship and mutually beneficial cooperation conform to the common interests of both sides, Hu said.

The two sides should conduct closer high-level exchanges, promote consensus on cooperation, actively press for the dovetail of China’s Belt and Road Initiative and Vietnam’s “Two Corridors and One Economic Circle” plan, deepen the pragmatic cooperation in the fields including infrastructure, economy and trade, investment, and develop border trade in a bid to lift their economic cooperation level, the vice-premier said.

The two sides should also promote science and technology, people-to-people and regional exchanges, especially exchanges between the youth of the two countries so as to consolidate social and public opinion foundation for the friendly ties between the two countries.

Trong, for his part, thanked China for its support to Vietnam hosting the World Economic Forum (WEF) on ASEAN.

Noting that Vietnam cherishes brotherly traditional friendship between the two parties and two countries, Trong said Vietnam will continue to consolidate political mutual trust and seek closer synergy of development strategies between the two countries.

Vietnam will also enhance trade and economic cooperation with China, encourage exchanges between the youth and at the subnational levels so as to consolidate and develop the Vietnam-China comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership.

When meeting with Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc on Sept 11, Hu exchanged views with him on further promoting practical cooperation between the two countries and reached extensive consensus.

Hu is in Hanoi to attend the WEF on ASEAN from Sept 11 to 13.