Premier Wen Jiabao and Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung vowed in Helsinki, Finland yesterday to boost more cooperation in various fields like trade and settling borderline.

 

In a meeting prior to the 6th Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) summit, the two leaders met and reached wide range of consensus on deepening bilateral relations, according to Chinese officials.

 

Wen put forward four priorities for future cooperation:

 

l         To prepare for setting up a high-level joint commission to make blueprint for and boost bilateral cooperation in an all-around manner

 

l         To negotiate and sign a framework agreement on bilateral trade and economic cooperation as soon as possible, and to speed up the implementation of major cooperation projects

 

l         To complete the work of borderline demarcation between the two countries in the spirit of mutual understanding

 

l         To implement a three-party agreement signed by China, Vietnam and the Philippines, and to make joint exploration of resources in the South China Sea

 

Nguyen, on his part, said the frequent exchanges of high-level visits have contributed to increasing mutual trust and boost bilateral relations, according to Chinese officials.

 

The Vietnamese side hopes to deepen bilateral trade and economic cooperation and promote cooperation in electricity generation, energy and mineral resources exploration, said Nguyen.

 

He said the Vietnamese side is willing to join hands with the Chinese side to take various efforts to ensure that the borderline demarcation will be completed by 2008.

 

Nguyen also expressed the willingness to make more cooperation with China in the South China Sea, according to Chinese officials.

 

The two leaders are here to attend the two-day ASEM summit, which opened yesterday.

 

(Xinhua News Agency September 11, 2006)