Hong warmly welcomed and wished the new Ambassador success in completing his term of office in Vietnam and in contribution to strengthening the friendship between the two peoples.
Hong said Vietnam always appreciates and holds gratitude for the support and assistance extended by international friends, including Chinese people in Vietnam’s cause of struggling for national liberation and construction. But the current difficulties in the Vietnam – China relations require the utmost restraint, especially from the mass media in both the countries, which shall provide true and objective information in order to avoid incitement, he said. He expressed hope that Vietnam and China will soon resolve the current tensions by peaceful means.
Ambassador Hong Xiao Yong expressed his sincere thanks to warm reception and wishes for his new term in Vietnam. He said that the China – Vietnam relations have now been witnessing the most difficult period since the two normalized diplomatic relations in 1991. However, given both China and Vietnam are socialist countries led by Communist Parties, Hong said he hoped the current crisis should be resolved as have been done many other tough problems in history of the two countries. The ambassador also agreed that the media in both countries shall practice self-restrain and provide objective news promise. Hong pledged to do his utmost to boost cooperation of the two countries.
At the meeting VUFO President Hong proposed the ambassador with three points from the VCFA’s 2014 working plan. Firstly, both sides shall carry out soon the sixth Vietnam – China People’s Forum, with focus on the current situation at the East Sea. Secondly, he proposed China to soon take Chinese experts and workers back to work on the Vietnam – China Friendship Palace project. Thirdly, based on the the plan of cooperation signed in the presence of Vietnam’s State President Truong Tan Sang and Chinese State President Xi Jinping in June 2013, VUFO and the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries should submit a concrete plan to implement the cooperation programs for 2014 and the following years.
