Chinese, Vietnamese PMs vow to handle border issues properly

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-10-16 16:12

CHENGDU: Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao and his Vietnamese counterpart Nguyen Tan Dung pledged to properly handle border and South China Sea issues on Friday while hailing bilateral trade and economic ties between the two countries.

Vietnam is a friendly neighbor and an important cooperation partner of China, and the two countries share broad common interests, Wen told Dung in a meeting following the opening ceremony of an international trade fair in the capital of southwest China's Sichuan province.

China attaches great importance to the relationship with Vietnam and will maintain high-level contact, enhance political mutual trust with Vietnam and properly handle border and South China Sea issues, Wen said.

He pledged to work along with Vietnam to cope with the international financial crisis, promote trade and speed up cooperation with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

Dung said to develop the comprehensive strategic partnership with China is an unswerving policy of Vietnam.

Vietnam will keep high-level exchanges, stimulate trade and two-way investment as well as cooperate with China in regional economic development programs, Dung said.

He vowed to properly settle the South China Sea issue and other problems via friendly negotiation with China so as to preserve the development of bilateral ties.

As the rotating president of ASEAN, Vietnam will play a positive role in boosting ASEAN-China cooperation, Dung acknowledged.