Premier Wen Jiabao said in Beijing Wednesday that China would promote talks on Vietnam's accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO). "China will continue to actively promote Vietnam's accession to the WTO in multilateral forums," Wen told Vietnam Communist Party leader Nong Dec Manh.
 
Wen, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, called on the two countries to boost trade and broaden and diversify economic ties.
 
He spoke highly of the development of Sino-Vietnamese trade and economic ties, urged that key projects be implemented efficiently and suggested the two jointly promote regional and sub-regional economic cooperation organizations.
 
Wen hailed China-Vietnam political relations and encouraged both to deepen their neighborly alliances and all-round cooperation.
 
Nong said he appreciated the achievements China had made during the reform and opening-up process and the way the country had built a socialist society with distinctly Chinese characteristics. He pledged to expand cooperation in various fields including trade in order to enrich bilateral ties.
 
China has been Vietnam's biggest trading partner since 2004 with business exceeding US$8 billion in 2005. The countries expect to do US$10 billion in annual trade as early as this year which is well ahead of their 2010 target.

Top legislator Wu Bangguo also met with Nong in Beijing Wednesday. He said the National People's Congress (NPC), China's top legislative body, would enhance exchanges and cooperation with Vietnam. 
 
The NPC would increase exchanges with the Vietnamese National Assembly on state governance, democracy and legislative activity, he explained. It would also enhance cooperation in international and regional inter-parliamentary organizations, he said.
 
Wu, also member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, hailed the China-Vietnam friendship and the relations between the two countries which had been forged by late leaders like Mao Zedong and Ho Chi Minh.
 
He asked that the countries cherish their traditional friendship, strengthen mutual trust, promote mutually beneficial cooperation and achieve common development. Wu also spoke highly of the talks between Nong and President Hu Jintao.
 
Nong hailed the relations between the Vietnamese National Assembly and the NPC. He himself had visited China as chairman of the National Assembly.
 
Parliamentary exchange was an important channel for increasing understanding and deepening cooperation, Nong observed. Vietnam would share with China experiences in democracy and legislative activity.
 
Nong arrived in Beijing Tuesday at the start of a five-day official goodwill visit. This is his first overseas visit since being reelected as general secretary in April and his third visit since he was first elected in 2001.

(Xinhua News Agency August 24, 2006)