Xi congratulates Vietnam's president on his election

President Xi Jinping pledged on Monday to work with Nguyen Xuan Phuc, Vietnam's new president, to achieve greater progress in China-Vietnam relations in order to better benefit the two countries and their people.

Xi made the remark in his message of congratulation to Phuc, who had served as Vietnam's prime minister for the past five years.

Hailing China and Vietnam as socialist neighbors connected by mountains and water, Xi said the two countries have assisted each other and worked together for major progress in fighting the COVID-19 pandemic.

Since last year, bilateral ties have sustained sound development with a new chapter being written in good-neighborly and friendly relations between China and Vietnam, Xi said.

Xi stressed that as the world experiences profound changes unseen in a century, China-Vietnam relations and the two countries' socialist construction have entered a crucial stage.

He said he highly values developing China's relations with Vietnam and stands ready to work with Phuc to promote the greater development of their bilateral comprehensive partnership and bring more benefits to the two countries and their people.

Also on Monday, Premier Li Keqiang congratulated Pham Minh Chinh on his election as Vietnam's new prime minister.

Li said in a message that he stands ready to work with Chinh to steadily promote the alignment of development strategies and accelerate mutually beneficial and win-win cooperation between the two nations.

Li said he will also work with his counterpart to make a positive contribution to the development of good-neighborliness and friendship, as well as comprehensive cooperation between China and Vietnam.

The National Assembly of Vietnam on Monday elected Phuc as the country's new president and Chinh as the country's new prime minister.

This is the first time in history that the nation's legislature has elected an incumbent prime minister as the state president, according to the Vietnam News Agency.