The statement was reaffirmed by Party General Secretary Nong Duc Manh while receiving Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi in Hanoi on April 24. 

Mr Manh congratulated China on its tremendous achievements recorded by the Communist Party of China (CPC) and its people during its open-door period, as well as the success of the recent 17^th national congress of CPC and recent sessions of the National People’s Congress and the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference.

He welcomed the results of the earlier working session between the two foreign ministries and expressed his hope that they will work harder to contribute to strengthening ties between the two countries.

He asked Mr Yang to convey his best regards to CPC General Secretary and State President Hu Jintao and other Chinese leaders and invite them to visit Vietnam.

Mr Yang spoke highly of the development of the Sino-Vietnamese relationship in recent times and affirmed that the Party, State and people of China will make a greater effort to bring bilateral relationship to new highs.

He briefed Mr Manh on the situation in China, particularly its preparations for Beijing Olympics 2008 scheduled for August.

The same day, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung received Chinese FM Yang Jiechi, who proposed that the two countries accelerate negotiations and rapidly approve a five-year economic cooperation scheme for mutual benefit. Mr Yang said that China will consider increasing Vietnamese imports to balance bilateral trade ties.

The Chinese FM noted with satisfaction the progress made in the border demarcation and landmark planting between the two countries. He said that Vietnam and China should continue negotiations on the delineation of the border in the area off the Bac Bo (Tonkin Gulf) estuary and promote exploration and scientific-technological cooperation in the area.

He thanked the Government of Vietnam for its preparations to ensure the success of the upcoming torch relay in Ho Chi Minh City.

For his part, PM Nguyen Tan Dung welcomed China’s goodwill towards importing more Vietnamese commodities to balance bilateral trade ties and said that the two countries should implement measures to increase two-way trade value.  

He said that he will instruct relevant ministries and agencies to speed up negotiations on the five-year economic cooperation scheme for early approval. He proposed that the two countries speed up negotiations and the landmark planting to complete the work by 2008 as schedule, while working on the delineation of the border and scientific and technological cooperation in the area off the Tonkin Gulf estuary.

The Government leader affirmed that Vietnam will do its utmost to ensure security for the torch relay in HCM City, considering it as the country’s practical contribution to the success of the world’s biggest sporting event in China.