HANOI, Nov. 1 (Xinhuanet) -- The Communist Party of China (CPC) and the Chinese government will, as always, support Sino-Vietnamese nongovernmental friendly exchanges, visiting Chinese President Hu Jintao said here Tuesday.

    Hu, also General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee, made the remarks at a meeting with Chairman of the Vietnam-China Friendship Association Doan Manh Giao.

    Noting that bilateral nongovernmental friendly exchanges are anindispensable part of the efforts for promoting good neighborliness, friendship and overall cooperation between the twocountries, Hu said. He noted that the Chinese side will work alongwith the Vietnamese side in boosting such exchanges and cooperation.

    He spoke positively of the important contributions made by the friendship associations of the two countries to the bilateral friendship and cooperation, expressing the hope that they will continue to make efforts in strengthening the traditional friendship between the two peoples.

    Giao, for his part, said the Vietnam-China Friendship Association will continue to make efforts to boost bilateral friendship, especially the friendly exchanges between young peopleof the two countries, in a bid to carry forward the bilateral friendship from generation to generation.

    Hu arrived here Monday on a three-day official goodwill visit at the invitation of General-Secretary of the Central Committee ofthe Communist Party of Vietnam, Nong Duc Manh, and Vietnamese President Tran Duc Luong. Enditem