Chinese communist party leader and President Hu Jintao held talks with Vietnamese communist party leader Nong Duc Manh in Beijing on Tuesday.

President Hu Jintao (right) greets visiting Viet Nam's Communist Party chief Nong Duc Manh in Beijing yesterday. [Xinhua]

They agreed to further boost trade, properly handle border issues and enhance security cooperation.

Hu and Manh agreed to inherit and carry forward traditional friendship, enhance friendship and mutual understanding, expand mutual beneficial cooperation, promote common development and lift bilateral good-neighborhood and all-round cooperation to a new height.

During their talks in the Great Hall of the People in downtown Beijing, Hu, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee made a five-point proposal to boost Sino-Vietnamese relations.

He suggested Chinese and Vietnamese party and state leaders to maintain frequent visits, exchange in depth views on important issues of common concern, exchange experience on party ruling and state governance and theory and practise of socialism in a bid to consolidate the political base of the relations between the two parties and countries.

He asked the two countries to deepen trade and economic cooperation in a spirit of reciprocal, mutual beneficial and win-win.

He urged the two countries to strengthen long-term cooperation in such fields as energy, resource and communication, promote regional cooperation and expand two-way trade.

China will support strong companies to invest in Vietnam and will provide credit support for those projects which will yield in great economic and social benefit, he said.

Hu also appealed the two countries to enhance exchange and cooperation in culture, education, science and technology, public security and regional security, boost youth and cultural exchange, increase understanding and friendship between the two peoples.

On border and territory issues, Hu asked the two sides to properly handle such questions from a broad point of view and carry out friendly consultation.

He asked to speed up inspection over the Sino-Vietnamese land border, complete such works and erect mere stones as scheduled in 2008, continue with steady steps talks on the sea border and joint development in the South China Sea, keep the momentum of cooperation between China, Vietnam and the Philippines in the South China Sea.

Hu also appealed China and Vietnam to enhance coordination and cooperation on international and regional issues, promote world peace and development hand in hand.

Hu hailed the traditional friendship and relations between the two parties and countries.

China and Vietnam exchanged frequent high-level visits, experience on party ruling and state governance, gradually resolved border problems left over from the past, witnessed fruitful cooperation in trade, economy and other fields.

China appreciates that the Vietnamese party and government stick to one-China policy, oppose to "Taiwan Independence" and support China's peaceful reunification strive, Hu said.

To further the Sino-Vietnamese relations conforms with the common aspiration and fundamental interest of the two peoples, and will benefit the two countries' development and prosperity, Hu noted.

Chinese party and government attaches great importance to the relations with Vietnam and will make joint efforts to boost bilateral relations under the principles of long-term stability, face the future, good-neighborhood and friendship and all-round cooperation, he said.

Chinese party, government and people support the reform of Vietnam, which will stick to the leadership of the communist party and to the socialism direction, support Vietnam's efforts for economic progress, social stability and improvement of international environment, Hu noted.

Manh, general secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee (CPVCC), agreed with Hu on his remarks and appreciated his proposals.

China is the destination of his first overseas visit after he was reelected as general secretary in April.

Manh said such a visit indicated that the Vietnamese party, government and people attach importance to and will strive to deepen bilateral good-neighborhood, mutual trust and all-round cooperation.

Vietnam appreciated China's great support and selfless assistance in its national liberation, reunification and socialism building drive, he said.

Manh hailed the boosting cooperation with China and the new fruits yielded after President Hu's visit to Vietnam last year.

He spoke highly of China's contribution to international and regional affairs, saying the Vietnam-China cooperation will benefit the world and regional peace, stability and development.

Vietnam will adhere to the one-China policy, oppose to "Taiwan Independence" in any excuse, and wishes for an early realization of China's reunification, Manh said.

He appreciated China's help to Vietnamese fishing boats and fishermen troubled by Typhoon and expressed condolence to Chinese who are suffering from flood in some part of the country.

He also hailed the leadership of the Communist Party of China, saying the Chinese party and government achieved in great successes, which will encourage Vietnamese party and government as well, who will share those experiences with China.

The two sides also exchanged views in depth on international and regional situation. They presented a signing ceremony for some inter-governmental agreements after the talks.

Manh arrived in Beijing on Tuesday at the start of a five-day official goodwill visit to China.

This is the first overseas visit by Manh since he was re-elected as general secretary in April and his third visit since he was first elected in 2001.

Bilateral relations had developed smoothly with leaders' meetings and China had been Vietnam's biggest trade partner since 2004, with trade exceeding eight billion U.S. dollars in 2005.

The two sides were expecting to fulfill the annual trade target of 10 billion U.S. dollars this year ahead of the 2010 schedule.