Vietnam and China have pledged to further expand economic
cooperation in a mutually complementary and win-win way, said a
declaration issued jointly by the two countries on Friday.
The two countries will explore fresh growth areas and maintain a
rapid growth in bilateral trade volume, which the two sides vow to
boost to US$15 billion by 2010, said the declaration issued during
Chinese President Hu Jintao's visit to Vietnam.
Hu has held talks with General Secretary of the Central
Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam Nong Duc Manh,
President Nguyen Minh Triet, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung and
National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Phu Trong.
In the declaration, Vietnam and China pledge to improve trade
structure to achieve a balanced and sustainable growth; support and
encourage enterprises from both sides to conduct long-term and
mutually beneficial cooperation in infrastructure, industries,
energy and human resources; enhance cooperation in regional,
trans-regional and international economic mechanisms.
In the declaration, China congratulates Vietnam on its accession
to the World Trade Organization (WTO) as it expresses its belief
that as a WTO member, Vietnam will make positive contribution to
the operation of WTO.
The two sides also signed an accord on expanding and deepening
bilateral economic and trade cooperation, which sets the guidelines
for economic cooperation between the two countries in the next five
to 10 years and pinpoints focus of cooperation.
The joint document also highlighted progress in solving border
issues, with Vietnam and China agreeing to complete the demarcation
of land borders and the planting of border markers by
2008.
Pledges were also made over cooperation in fishery,
environmental protection, sea rescue and other fields in bordering
waters of the Beibu Gulf.
In addition, the two countries agreed to abide by the consensus
reached by leaders of both sides to maintain negotiation mechanisms
for solving the maritime issues and to seek lasting solutions
acceptable to both sides through peaceful dialogues.
The two sides also vow to work together to maintain the
stability in South China Sea while studying and discussing joint
exploitation, according to the declaration.
Vietnam is the first leg of Hu's four-nation tour, which will
also take him to Laos, India and Pakistan.
(Xinhua News Agency November 18, 2006)
