The view was shared by Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung and Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao during their meeting on the sidelines of the 10^th Western China International Trade Fair in Chingqong city, Sichuan province, on October 16.

Mr Wen welcomed Mr Dung’s visit to Sichuan province, which he said will help strengthen the strategic comprehensive cooperation partnership between the two countries, particularly cooperation between Vietnam and China’s western provinces.

Vietnam is China’s friendly neighbour and key trading partner, said Mr Wen, adding that the Party, Government and people of China attach great importance to fostering friendly and cooperative ties with Vietnam.

For his part, Mr Dung said that the Vietnamese Party and State will do their utmost to strengthen the partnership with China in line with the motto “friendly neighbourliness, comprehensive cooperation, long-term stability and future orientation”, and in the spirit of “good neighbours, good friends, good comrades and good partners.”

Both host and guest agreed that the two countries should work more closely together to organise activities within the framework of the 2010 Vietnam-China Friendship Year and increase the exchange of delegations at all levels, particularly among the youth. 

They appointed the two countries’ aviation agencies to study the opening of a direct air route between Vietnam and Chongqing to facilitate trade activities between Vietnam and China’s western provinces.

They hailed the completion of land border demarcation and landmark planting and urged relevant agencies to prepare for the signing of a protocol on the completion, an agreement on border management regulations and an agreement on bordergate management regulations by the end of this year. They also asked the designated agencies to draft and sign documents on joint cooperation in tourism in the Ban Gioc Waterfall area and the free movement of boats at the Bac Luan River mouth in 2010.

The two leaders expressed their belief that maritime issues will be eventually settled in the spirit of friendship between Vietnam and China and in line with international law, including the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea and the 2002 Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC).

They agreed to cooperate closely to foster ties between ASEAN and China.

Mr Dung invited Mr Wen to visit Vietnam at an appropriate time and the invitation was accepted with pleasure.