Vietnam and China should promote their friendly and cooperative relations between the two parties, states and peoples, a Vietnamese minister said in Hanoi Friday.

 

Vietnam and China, which have traditional friendship, are not only neighbors but also comrades, Minister of Public Security Le Hong Anh said while meeting with Hu Qianwen, Chinese ambassador to Vietnam.

 

The two countries should organize more delegations to visit each other to share experiences, and promote culture and sports exchanges, Anh said.

 

The minister highly appreciated China's assistance to Vietnam in the wartime and its national construction, saying that China has contributed to victories of Vietnam.

 

In response, the Chinese ambassador said China attaches importance to developing the friendly and cooperative relations with Vietnam.

 

The ambassador conveyed to Anh the invitation of Chinese Minister of Public Security Zhou Yongkang for a visit to China in September.

 

The Chinese ministry has decided to grant non-refundable aid of 1.5 million yuan (US$187,500) worth of equipment to the Vietnamese ministry, he said.

 

(Xinhua News Agency July 1, 2006)