Chinese President Hu Jintao hosting a welcoming ceremony for Vietnamese President Nguyen Minh Triet's visit at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing

On the afternoon of May 17, 2007, Chinese President Hu Jintao held talks with Vietnamese President Nguyen Minh Triet at the Great Hall of the People. Both sides agreed to follow the policy of "long-term stability, orientation to the future, good-neighborly friendship and comprehensive cooperation" and push for in-depth, extensive development of bilateral ties.

During the meeting, Hu said China-Vietnam relations have maintained a good momentum in recent years with frequent high-level visits and close exchanges at all levels. Both sides have established a bilateral cooperation steering committee and various counterpart mechanisms are operating effectively with fast-growing economic and trade cooperation and steadily increasing trade volume. Both sides have also conducted content-rich, all-round exchanges and cooperation between various agencies of the two countries and coordinated in international and regional affairs. Hu spoke highly of Vietnam's adherence to the one-China policy, opposition to "Taiwan independence" and support for China's reunification.

Triet said both countries are close neighbors linked by mountains and rivers and the two peoples share a profound traditional friendship. Recalling China's long-standing support and assistance to Vietnam, Triet hailed sound development of bilateral ties. The leaders of both countries have reached broad consensus on deepening bilateral ties, said Triet, adding that both sides have scored noticeable achievements in trade cooperation, made positive headway in settling border issues and carried out effective cooperation between counterpart agencies and regions and sound youth exchanges. He reiterated that Vietnam would firmly adhere to the one-China policy, support China's reunification and oppose "Taiwan independence separatist activities" in any form.

Hu said China has always been looking at and handling bilateral ties from a strategic and all-round perspective and is ready to make joint efforts with Vietnam to push China-Vietnam good-neighborly friendship and comprehensive cooperation to a new level from the following five aspects. First, Hu suggested both countries should maintain bilateral friendly exchanges at all levels including high-level contacts and give full play to the role of the bilateral cooperation steering committee and counterpart cooperation mechanisms to ensure sound and steady development of bilateral ties. Second, Hu proposed both countries should deepen economic, trade and technological cooperation and upgrade the level of cooperation. Hu urged both sides to conduct close coordination, draw up economic and trade cooperation plans, define key cooperation areas and projects and accelerate the process of constructing "Two Corridors, One Circle". Both sides should steadily expand bilateral trade, improve trade mix and quality and achieve a balanced trade development. Hu also urged both sides to focus efforts on cooperation in key projects and promote mutual investment. Third, Hu proposed the two countries expand humanistic exchanges, do a good job in personnel training and such events as the 3rd theoretical seminar between the Communist Party of China (CPC) and the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) and the 8th friendly meeting between the youth of both countries and make greater efforts in disseminating China-Vietnam friendship. Fourth, Hu suggested both countries bear in mind the China-Vietnam friendship for generations and the overall development of bilateral ties, properly handle the border issues and safeguard peace and stability in the border areas, so as to create a favorable neighboring environment for both sides' reform and development. Fifth, Hu also suggested both sides strengthen coordination and cooperation in international and regional affairs, especially that within the multilateral frameworks including the United Nations, World Trade Organization, Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation, China-ASEAN FTA, Asia-Europe Meeting and Great Mekong Subregion. Both countries should jointly discuss how to respond to the difficulties and challenges after China's accession to the WTO and push for the process of China-ASEAN FTA negotiations in the area of investment and multilateral cooperation in Great Mekong Subregion, he added.

Triet said the two countries are facing the same development tasks, and share common strategic interests. Relations with China are a priority of Vietnam's foreign relations, Triet stressed. He said that Vietnam was keen to maintain exchanges with China at all levels, further increase mutual understanding and trust, and deepen cooperation in areas such as trade, technology, agriculture, culture, tourism and youth. Triet said Vietnam is ready to work with China to do a good job in the "Two Corridors and One Circle" program and develop relations between the border provinces, so as to create peace, friendship and common development in the frontier area. He pledged to deal with the land demarcation in a timely way and increase bilateral cooperation in the Beibu Bay area. Both sides should strengthen coordination and cooperation in the United Nations and other international and regional organizations, he added.

Following the talks, the two presidents attended a signing ceremony of several cooperation documents covering such areas as economy, culture, transportation and human resources training.

Prior to the meeting, President Hu Jintao held a welcoming ceremony for Triet's visit to China. President Hu's wife Liu Yongqing, Vice Chairman Raidi of the NPC Standing Committee, State Councilor Tang Jiaxuan, Vice Chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) Li Guixian, Vice Chairman of the Central Committee of the Revolutionary Committee of the Chinese Kuomingtang Zhu Peikang, Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi, Chairman of the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) Ma Kai, Minister of Commerce Bo Xilai, Chinese Ambassador to Vietnam Hu Qianwen and other officials attended the ceremony.