Chinese President Hu Jintao on Thursday sent a congratulatory letter to Nguyen Phu Trong for becoming the general secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV).

Wang Jiarui, head of the International Department of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, who is currently visiting Vietnam, delivered the letter to Trong during a meeting in Hanoi.

In the message, Hu congratulated Trong on his election of the CPV general secretary during the 11th CPV National Party Congress, saying Vietnam will record greater achievements in its reform and socialist construction under the new leadership elected on the occasion.

Hu said during the past two decades, the country bordering China on the south, is enjoying political stability, economic development and social harmony.

He praised the Vietnamese leader's contributions to consolidate and promote the traditional friendly and good neighborly ties between the two parties, the two countries and the two peoples.

During the meeting, Trong thanked the Chinese President for his letter, saying the CPV, Vietnamese government and people have always attached importance to their long friendship with the CPC, Chinese government and people. The new central leadership will cherish and strengthen the mutual trust and understanding, and bilateral relations with China.