Mr. Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, on Sunday sent a congratulatory message to the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV)’s Secretary General Nguyen Phu Trong for his re-election as leader of the Vietnam Communist Party for the next term.

General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Nguyen Phu Trong (3rd left) on the day re-elected, January 31. Photo: Vietnam News Agency

Mr. Xi made the congratulation on the same day Mr. Trong was re-elected to the position, becoming the world’s first leader congratulated the CPV head.

Mr. Trong, born in 1944 in Hanoi, was voted the General Secretary for the third term.

He was first elected to the top office of the CPV at its 11th National Congress in January 2011.

He was re-elected in the 12th Congress held in January 2016. In October 2018, the leader was elected State President for the 2016-21 term after the passing of State President Tran Dai Quang.
Chinese media reported that Mr. Xi said in the message he was glad to learn about Mr. Trong’s re-election.

The Chinese leader called for stronger bilateral relations and advancing the countries’ traditional friendship.

China and Vietnam are friendly socialist neighbors and also a community with a shared future of strategic significance, Xinhua News Agency cited Mr. Xi.

Mr. Xi underscored the relations between the two parties and the two nations. He said that he will stand ready to work with Mr. Trong to deepen exchanges in various areas, promoting the China-Vietnam comprehensive strategic partnership.

He also stressed the need to benefit people from both countries and make positive contributions to regional and global peace, development and win-win cooperation.

In 2020, Mr. Xi spoke with Mr. Trong twice over the phone and he also sent a message of sympathy to Mr. Trong over the passing of Mr. Le Kha Phieu, former general secretary of the CPV in August.