State Councilor Yang Jiechi has called on the Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh for both countries to continue efforts to honor agreements made between leaders recently.

Yang made the call in a telephone conversation on Feb 13.

This year marks the 65th anniversary of the establishment of China-Vietnam diplomatic ties, and the partners have an opportunity to improve and grow that relationship, Yang said.

Yang referred to a recent telephone conversation between General Secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee Xi Jinping and his Vietnamese counterpart, Nguyen Phu Trong, two days earlier.

The two talked of plans to develop the China-Vietnam comprehensive strategic partnership “at a strategic height and with the big picture in mind”, Yang said.

Both sides of the China-Vietnam steering committee on cooperation should maintain close communication, strengthen coordination and fully master and implement the important consensus reached by the two party leaders, Yang said.

In the coming year, the two countries should prepare for high-level dealings, draw up plans and ensure there is collaboration in various fields, jointly address maritime issues appropriately and work to further improve the relationship, Yang said.

Minh said the telephone conversation between the two party leaders was of great significance to developing the relationship between the two parties and the two countries.

He also said Vietnam is ready to make plans for collaboration with China in various fields based on consensus between the two party leaders, to strengthen high-level dealings, to continue cultural exchanges and jointly to ensure maritime peace and stability.