Chinese President Hu Jintao, also general secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC), top legislator Wu Bangguo and Premier Wen Jiabao on Monday exchanged congratulatory messages with their Vietnamese counterparts to mark the 60th anniversary of diplomatic ties between the two countries.

In a joint message, Hu, Wu and Wen said forging diplomatic ties 60 years ago has established a milestone in the bilateral relations.

In the 21st century, the China-Vietnam relations have entered a new stage, and both sides have built the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership, enjoyed fruitful results in cooperation in all areas, gradually resolved border issues and maintained collaboration on international and regional affairs, they said.

The Chinese leaders pledged to make joint efforts with Vietnam to advance the good-neighborly and cooperative relations by carrying forward the traditional friendship, enhancing friendly exchanges and expanding mutually beneficial cooperation, which serves the common aspiration and fundamental interests of the two peoples and conduces to regional peace, stability and development.

For their part, General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam Nong Duc Manh, President Nguyen Minh Triet, Premier Nguyen Tan Dung and Chairman of the National Assembly Nguyen Phu Trong said Vietnam always values and would fully develop the friendly and cooperative relations between both parties, governments and peoples.

The Vietnamese leaders believed that with joint efforts both parties would continuously consolidate and develop the Vietnam-China comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership, promote the prosperity of both countries and benefit both peoples.

Both parties hoped to further enhance the mutual understanding and friendship of the two peoples and countries by jointly conducting the China-Vietnam Friendship Year in 2010.