BEIJING — The Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC) will work to foster relations between Việt Nam and China in a long-term and sustainable manner. 
President of the CPAFFC Li Xiaolin made the remark at a meeting with Party General Secretary Nguyễn Phú Trọng in Beijing on Friday.
She expressed her honour to receive the Friendship Order of the Vietnamese Party and State, which was presented by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Phạm Bình Minh, in recognition of her contributions to enhancing Việt Nam-China friendship. 
Li Xiaolin said she has visited Việt Nam four times and each trip made a deep impression on her. 
She added that exchanges between Vietnamese and Chinese States should be based on people-to-people exchanges, and both sides must promote bilateral collaboration. 
Party General Secretary Nguyễn Phú Trọng said the enhancement of mutual understanding, friendship, trust and co-operation between the two peoples is necessary to develop relations. 
He lauded the CPAFFC and the China – Việt Nam Friendship Association for hosting various activities to propel bilateral amity. 
The Party chief said he hoped the Chinese associations will continue co-ordinating with Việt Nam to increase friendly exchanges between the two peoples, especially among young generations. 
He underlined the long-standing friendship between Việt Nam and China, which was founded by late President Hồ Chí Minh and President Mao Zedong and nurtured by generations of leaders and peoples. 
During his ongoing visit to China from Wednesday to Sunday, the two sides have agreed to elevate their relationship to a new height via various co-operation mechanisms and dialogue channels, of which the role of the CPAFFC is crucial, Party leader Nguyễn Phú Trọng said. 
He hoped the association will build on its accomplishments to launch more activities and new initiatives to strengthen friendship and co-operation between Vietnamese and Chinese people. 
Li Xiaolin informed the host about the association’s activities and said people-to-people exchanges could help increase political trust between the two countries. 
The signing of a co-operation plan between the CPAFFC and the Việt Nam Union of Friendship Organisations in 2017-21 will help the two sides enhance people-to-people exchanges, she added. — VNS