Premier Wen Jiabao said in Beijing yesterday that China will 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 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 sides jointly promote regional and sub-regional economic cooperation organizations.

 

Wen hailed China-Vietnam political relations and encouraged the two sides to deepen neighborly relations 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.

 

Nong, general secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee, arrived in Beijing Tuesday at the start of a five-day official goodwill visit to China.

 

This is the first overseas visit by Nong since he was reelected as general secretary in April and his third visit since he was first elected in 2001.

 

China has been Vietnam's biggest trade partner since 2004, with trade exceeding US$8 billion in 2005.

 

The two sides expect to yield US$10 billion in annual trade as early as this year, well ahead of the 2010 target.

 

(Xinhua News Agency August 24, 2006)