Premier Wen Jiabao said Thursday China and Vietnam should carefully handle existing problems in bilateral relations. 

Wen made the remarks when meeting with his Vietnamese counterpart Phan Van Khai, who is on an official visit in China.

Highly valuing the traditional friendship between each other, Wen said the Chinese government will work with Vietnam to push neighborly relations to a new high.

To inherit and deepen the traditional friendship between the two countries conforms to the fundamental interest of both peoples, Wen said.

Echoing Wen's view, Phan said it is the resolute and long-term policy of the Vietnamese Party and government to consolidate and push forward friendship with China.

Wen suggested the two countries should strengthen high-level exchanges and bilateral political ties.

China and Vietnam have set up a target to double the current volume of bilateral trade by 2010, said Wen, adding that the two countries should enhance economic and trade relations.

To enhance the foundation of traditional friendship, the two neighbors should encourage regional exchanges as well as exchanges between the peoples through various channels, said Wen, while sharing the experiences of reform and opening-up.

As to existing problems in bilateral relations, he said the two nations should seek proper solutions with the consideration of overall situation.

The economies of Vietnam and China are highly complementary, Phan said. The two countries have great potential to work together.

Vietnam plans to adopt pragmatic measures to make China its largest trading partner as possible, he said.

As part of his four-day visit to China, which started Thursday, Phan will also meet other Chinese leaders today and pay a visit to central China's Hubei Province and Liaoning Province in northeast China.

(China Daily May 21, 2004)