Chinese State President Hu Jintao, Prime Minister Wen Jiabao and Chairman of the Chinese National People’s Congress Standing Committee Wu Bangguo sent congratulatory messages to Vietnamese State President Truong Tan Sang, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung, and National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung, respectively.

The message wrote: “China and Vietnam are two close neighbouring countries and the two peoples share a time-honoured traditional friendship. Over recent years, under the motto, “Friendly neighbourliness, comprehensive cooperation, long-lasting stability and looking forward to the future”, the China-Vietnam relationship has recorded new progress.

“The China-Vietnam relationship has developed in a healthy and stable manner, in line with the basic interests of both countries and peoples and for peace, stability and development in the region.

“The Chinese side committed itself to join the Vietnamese side in enhancing trust, expanding exchange, deepening cooperation and promoting the unceasing development of the China-Vietnam comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership in the correct orbit,” concluded the message.

The Vietnamese State, Government and NA leaders also received congratulatory messages from Lao Party General Secretary and State President Choummaly Sayasone, Prime Minister Thongsing Thammavong and NA Chairwoman Pani Yathotou.

The Lao leaders expressed their delight at the major achievements recorded by Vietnamese people during national construction and development, emphasising that the elections of Truong Tan Sang, Nguyen Tan Dung and Nguyen Sinh Hung to hold important positions reflected the Vietnamese Party, State and people’s trust and high appreciation of their virtue, capability, great services and past contributions.

The Lao leaders expressed their firm belief that under the leadership of State President Truong Tan Sang, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung and NA Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung, the Vietnamese people will gain many important achievements in implementing the 11th National Party Congress’ Resolution, the 2011-2020 period national development strategy and the 2011-2015 socio-economic development plan. They anticipated greater successes in socialist construction, building up a prosperous people, a strong country, and a just, democratic and civilised society along with Vietnam’s increasing role and position in the international arena which will make important contributions to building the traditional friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between the two Parties, States and peoples in the interest of each people and for peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region and the world.

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev sent a message of congratulations to State President Truong Tan Sang. The message said: “The Russian people know you as a person who advocates the consistent policy of continuing to strengthen the strong and time-tested cooperation between our two countries. Developing relations for mutual benefits with Vietnam in the fields of politics, economics, humanities and other fields is Russia’s diplomatic priority in the Asia-Pacific. I hope for constructive cooperation with Your Excellency to strengthen the Vietnam-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership, for the benefits of the two peoples, for peace, stability and sustainable development in the Asia-Pacific. On the occasion, I have the honour of inviting Your Excellency to pay an official visit to the Russian Federation.”

Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan sent a congratulatory message to Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung. Part of the message said: “With great contributions to Vietnam’s economic development since Your Excellency took office as Prime Minister in 2006, I firmly believe that in the position of Prime Minister for the new tenure, you will continue your devotion to the prosperous development of Vietnam. I am pleased to see that bilateral relations between Japan and Vietnam are now developing strongly in many fields. I am always willing to cooperate with Your Excellency to increasingly promote the strategic partnership between the two countries in a sustainable manner.”

Chinese Vice State President Xi Jinping also sent a congratulatory message to his counterpart Nguyen Thi Doan on the occasion of her re-election as Vice State President of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam./.