(VOVworld) – National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan hosted a reception in Hanoi on Tuesday for Chinese Ambassador to Vietnam Hong Xiaoyong, calling for further bilateral cooperation in inter-parliamentary forums in the region and the world.

National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan and Chinese Ambassador to Vietnam Hong Xiaoyong (L) (Source: VNA)

She urged the 2 sides to take steps to improve the bilateral trade balance and resolve difficulties for cooperative projects. Ms. Ngan asked the Chinese Ambassador to help facilitate Vietnam’s export of agricultural products to China. The two countries should boost their cooperation and deal with maritime issues in the spirit of respecting each other’s legitimate interests and international law.

Ambassador Hong Xiaoyong said two-way trade turnover has been positive and Vietnam will become China’s top business partner in ASEAN. Over the past few years, Vietnam and China have had exchanges and cooperated in national defense, security and education.

The same day, National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan had a farewell meeting in Hanoi with the outgoing Australian Ambassador to Vietnam, Hugh Borrowman. Ms. Ngan expressed thanks for Australia’s help and support for ODA projects like the Cao Lanh bridge and the My Thuan bridge, saying such projects demonstrate the friendship between the two countries. The Australian Ambassador praised the Vietnamese community in Australia for their contributions. He said Australia will continue to be an important partner of Vietnam in programmes of development cooperation.