Prior to Chinese President Xi Jinping's state visit to Vietnam, our reporter Dong Xue sat down with Xiong Bo, the Chinese ambassador to Vietnam, to discuss Beijing's role in promoting bilateral ties. 

DONG XUE, Hanoi "Mr. Ambassador, great to have you on CGTN, we're here for the high level state visit, let's start with your expectations of this trip?"

XIONG BO, Chinese Ambassador to Vietnam "This visit is indeed very important, and we are looking forward to it. This year marks the 15th year of the China-Vietnam comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership. After 15 years of profound accumulation, conditions are now fully equipped for further upgrades. We believe that under the guidance of the top leaders of the two countries and the top leaders of the two parties, this visit will set a new orientation for China-Vietnam relations in the new era and define the new direction for the development of China-Vietnam relations."

DONG XUE, Hanoi "The comprehensive strategic partnership is the highest level of diplomatic engagement for Vietnam with other foreign countries. How would you evaluate the current state of China-Vietnam relationship?"

XIONG BO, Chinese Ambassador to Vietnam "I must emphasize the unique nature of China-Vietnam relations. China and Vietnam are both socialist countries led by the Communist Party and friendly neighbors connected by mountains and rivers. Bilateral relations combining these elements are rare in the world.

Linked by mountains and rivers, closely connected by lips and teeth, like-minded and sharing a common destiny, these 16 words should be the most distinctive feature of China-Vietnam relations. President Ho Chi Minh once described the deep friendship between China and Vietnam as that of comrades and brothers. This vividly portrays China-Vietnam relations.

We aim to further develop China-Vietnam relations, intending to issue a high-quality political document and reach dozens of cooperation agreements covering political, economic, local, and financial fields during President Xi's visit."

DONG XUE, Hanoi "The South China Sea remains a longstanding flashpoint, posing a threat to peace and security in Asia and globally. How can China and Vietnam cooperate to ensure peace and stability in the region and address the long-standing disputes over the South China Sea?"

XIONG BO, Chinese Ambassador to Vietnam "Maritime issues are partial concerns within the broader context of China-Vietnam relations. The key lies in properly managing differences and resolutely avoiding any impact on the overall development of bilateral relations. China and Vietnam have established multi-level dialogue and communication mechanisms on maritime issues. The channels of communication are open, and the two sides have actively promoted maritime cooperation, including joint patrols, managing pollution discharge in the sea, and cooperating through fishery agreements. It is hoped that these cooperative efforts will eventually build mutual trust and create conditions for the thorough settlement of maritime differences in the future."