Vietnam, China mark 59th anniversary of diplomatic ties

Hanoi (VNA) - Vietnam and China marked the 59th anniversary of the establishment of their diplomatic ties on Jan. 18.

On the occasion, Vietnam 's Party General Secretary Nong Duc Manh, State President
Nguyen Minh Triet, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung and National Assembly Nguyen Phu
Trong exchanged congratulation messages with China 's Party General Secretary and
State President Hu Jintao, Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National
People's Congress Wu Bangguo, and Premier Wen Jiabao.

Deputy PM and Foreign Minister Pham Gia Khiem, Chairman of the Vietnamese Steering
Committee for the Vietnam-China Bilateral Cooperation, also reciprocated
congratulations to his counterparts - Dai Bingguo, State Councillor and Chairman of
the Chinese Steering Committee for the Vietnam-China Bilateral Cooperation, and
Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi.

Meetings to celebrate the event were also held by the two countries' embassies and
friendship organisations.-Enditem