Premier Wen Jiabao said in Beijing Wednesday that China
would promote talks on Vietnam's accession to the World Trade
Organization (WTO). "China will continue to actively promote
Vietnam's accession to the WTO in multilateral forums," Wen told
Vietnam Communist Party leader Nong Dec Manh.
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Wen, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political
Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, called on
the two countries to boost trade and broaden and diversify economic
ties.
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He spoke highly of the development of Sino-Vietnamese trade and
economic ties, urged that key projects be implemented efficiently
and suggested the two jointly promote regional and sub-regional
economic cooperation organizations.
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Wen hailed China-Vietnam political relations and encouraged both to
deepen their neighborly alliances and all-round cooperation.
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Nong said he appreciated the achievements China had made during the
reform and opening-up process and the way the country had built a
socialist society with distinctly Chinese characteristics. He
pledged to expand cooperation in various fields including trade in
order to enrich bilateral ties.
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China has been Vietnam's biggest trading partner since 2004 with
business exceeding US$8 billion in 2005. The countries expect to do
US$10 billion in annual trade as early as this year which is well
ahead of their 2010 target.
Top legislator?Wu Bangguo?also met with Nong in
Beijing Wednesday. He said the National People's Congress (NPC),
China's top legislative body, would enhance exchanges and
cooperation with Vietnam.?
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The NPC would increase exchanges with the Vietnamese National
Assembly on state governance, democracy and legislative activity,
he explained. It would also enhance cooperation in international
and regional inter-parliamentary organizations, he said.
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Wu, also member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau
of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, hailed the
China-Vietnam friendship and the relations between the two
countries which had been forged by late leaders like Mao Zedong and
Ho Chi Minh.
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He asked that the countries cherish their traditional friendship,
strengthen mutual trust, promote mutually beneficial cooperation
and achieve common development. Wu also spoke highly of the talks
between Nong and President Hu Jintao.
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Nong hailed the relations between the Vietnamese National Assembly
and the NPC. He himself had visited China as chairman of the
National Assembly.
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Parliamentary exchange was an important channel for increasing
understanding and deepening cooperation, Nong observed. Vietnam
would share with China experiences in democracy and legislative
activity.
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Nong arrived in Beijing Tuesday at the start of a five-day official
goodwill visit. This is his first overseas visit since being
reelected as general secretary in April and his third visit since
he was first elected in 2001.
(Xinhua News Agency August 24, 2006)