China hopes that through the visit of Vietnam's top leader, the two countries will carry forward the traditional friendship and advance the building of an even higher level of community with a shared future that carries strategic significance, a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson said on Thursday.

Photo: Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Mao Ning, a spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, made the remarks during a regular press briefing in Beijing following the announcement that General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee and Vietnamese President To Lam will pay a state visit to China from April 14 to 17.

"China is the first country that General Secretary To Lam will visit following his election as president. That fully shows the great significance attached to developing relations between the two parties and two countries," said the spokesperson.

Mao said that China hopes that through the visit, the two countries will carry forward the traditional friendship, continue to deepen the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership, advance the building of an even higher level of community with a shared future that carries strategic significance, jointly promote the socialist cause in the world, and together maintain regional and world peace, stability and development.