China and Viet Nam enjoy mutual trust and reciprocal development
that form a solid base for good bilateral relations, a top Chinese
leader said Saturday.
Li
Peng, chairman of the Standing Committee of the National
People's Congress, the nation's top legislative body, met with
several Vietnamese leaders while on a three-day visit in the
neighbor nation.
Li
met with Vietnamese Premier Phan Van Khai, Vietnamese President
Tran Duc Luong, Communist Party General Secretary Nong Duc Manh and
former General Secretary Le Kha Phieu on the trip.
Increasingly consolidated bilateral co-operation is helpful to
China and Viet Nam, both socialist countries that share common
ideals and goals, Li said.
Li
said he was delighted to see the relationship blossom thanks to a
long-term, stable and good neighborly effort.
Le
Kha Phieu and Chinese President Jiang Zemin set up this path in
1999 with the settlement of the borders across land and across the
Beibu Gulf as well as an agreement on fishery co-operation in the
Beibu Gulf, Li noted.
The Vietnamese appreciate China's historic support during their
struggle for national liberation, independence and reunification,
Nong Duc Manh said.
He
said Viet Nam firmly supports China's position on the Taiwan issue,
viewing the island province as an inalienable part of China.
Enhanced relations between Viet Nam and China not only benefit the
two peoples but also contribute to the peace, stability and
development of the region, Nong Duc Manh said.
Li
told Nong Duc Manh that Jiang looks forward to meeting with him in
Beijing later this year. Nong Duc Manh also is excited about the
visit.
Tran Duc Luong said he hopes the two countries will enhance
exchanges and co-operation in culture, education, tourism and
sports, in addition to economic ties.
Li
noted that trade between the nations continues to break records,
with bilateral trade exceeding US$2.4 billion last year and keeping
up the growth pace in the first half of 2001.
Phan Van Khai said he was satisfied Viet Nam will continue to
become increasingly popular for Chinese tourists and that
Vietnamese continue to enjoy exploring China, too.
Li, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau
of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, is
visiting Viet Nam at the invitation of the Central Committee of the
Communist Party of Viet Nam and the Standing Committee of the
Vietnamese Congress.
(Chinadaily.com.cn
09/10/2001 )