Premier Wen Jiabao said in Beijing yesterday that China will
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.
Wen, also 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.
He spoke highly of the development of Sino-Vietnamese trade and
economic ties, urged that key projects be implemented efficiently
and suggested the two sides jointly promote regional and
sub-regional economic cooperation organizations.
Wen hailed China-Vietnam political relations and encouraged the
two sides to deepen neighborly relations and all-round
cooperation.
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.
Nong, general secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam
Central Committee, arrived in Beijing Tuesday at the start of a
five-day official goodwill visit to China.
This is the first overseas visit by Nong since he was reelected
as general secretary in April and his third visit since he was
first elected in 2001.
China has been Vietnam's biggest trade partner since 2004, with
trade exceeding US$8 billion in 2005.
The two sides expect to yield US$10 billion in annual trade as
early as this year, well ahead of the 2010 target.
(Xinhua News Agency August 24, 2006)
