On May 31, 2008, Member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and Premier of the State Council Wen Jiabao met with Nong Duc Manh, General Secretary of Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee, in Ziguangge, Zhongnanhai.

Wen first appreciated Vietnam's precious support to China's post-quake relief efforts. Wen said the two parties and countries share traditional friendly relations. Recent years have witnessed mutual exchange and assistance between both sides on political, economic and social reform and development and fruitful pragmatic cooperation in all areas. Both sides have strengthened communication and coordination in important regional and international organizations, safeguarding and promoting common interests. The Chinese government and the Communist Party of China (CPC) attach great importance to developing ties with Vietnam from a strategic perspective and are ready to abide by the principle of "long-term stability, orientation towards the future, good-neighborly friendship and comprehensive cooperation" and remain a good neighbor, friend, comrade and partner of Vietnam.

"In order to push bilateral economic and trade cooperation to a higher level on the existing sound basis, China and Vietnam should speed up mapping out and implementing a five-year economic and trade cooperation program," Wen said. He urged both sides to take stronger mutually beneficial measures in expanding the market and enlarging investment to meet the deed of each other's economic growth. Wen called for both countries to work closely to launch big projects in key fields of industry, infrastructure and energy. The Chinese government actively supports the building of China-Vietnam economic and trade cooperation area and hopes that it would help encourage Chinese businesspeople to invest more in Vietnam.

Manh appreciated the warm hospitality extended to him by the Chinese side at a time when the whole nation was going all out in the relief efforts, which, he said, fully proves that sharing weal and woe is the most commendable for Vietnam and China, as two close neighbors. Noting this year marked the 30-year anniversary of China's reform and opening up, Manh said the Vietnamese side is happy to see the tremendous achievements China has made. He said Vietnam is ready to do its utmost to support the Chinese people to win the battle against the disaster and rebuild homeland.

Manh agreed with Wen's proposals on developing bilateral ties, especially economic and trade cooperation, in a comprehensive manner. He spoke highly of his successful talks on May 30 with General Secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and Chinese President Hu Jintao, during which both sides reached broad consensus on developing bilateral comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership, setting a direction for strengthening Vietnam-China friendship in the new period. Vietnam will make joint efforts with China in all-out efforts to implement the consensus and push forward the traditional friendship.