VietNamNet Bridge – The Vietnamese Party, State and Government take the development of friendly relations and comprehensive co-operation with China as consistent, long-term and top priorities in Viet Nam's foreign policy, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung has said.

Photo: VNA

He proposed further enhancing the political trust between the two Parties, States and peoples.

Wen, who is in Ha Noi for the ASEAN-China Summit, the East Asia Summit and other related summits, confirmed a desire to closely co-ordinate with Viet Nam for the success of these meetings.

Friendship and co-operation was a consistent policy in relations between the two countries, said Wen, adding that China was ready to maintain an exchange of visits by high-ranking delegations and those from ministries, sectors and localities to solve issues arising.

Wen said China would soon establish a hotline between leaders of the two nations, sign five-year economic and trade-development scheme and facilitate Vietnamese goods entering Chinese markets as well as Chinese investment in Viet Nam.

He said China saw co-operation with ASEAN nations as important and was willing to help in all fields for regional peace, stability and development.

Dung and Wen agreed that deepening the comprehensive strategic co-operative partnership between the two countries was of great significance in the context of the complicated regional and international situation and in line with the two peoples' basic interests and aspirations.

The two leaders expressed delight that the two sides would soon finalise remaining documents on tourism co-operation at the Ban Gioc Waterfall and the free movement of boats at the estuary of the Bac Luan River.

The two sides also agreed, through friendly consultation, to seek solutions to existing issues relating to the East Sea, thus contributing to maintaining peace, stability and co-operation in the region and the world.

Both sides reached consensus on speeding up negotiations on basic principles to settle sea issues, and satisfactorily settling fishing and fishing boat issues.

Singapore's Lee

The same day, Dung and his Singaporean counterpart Lee Hsien Loong agreed that peace and stability in the East Sea was in the interests of all countries in the region.

The two leaders reiterated their countries' commitment to continue working together for the implementation of the Declaration of Conduct (DOC) and the formation of the Code of the Conduct (COC) for the East Sea.

Dung said relationship between the two countries would further be consolidated, particularly in the fields of economics, trade and investment.

He asked Singapore to continue to share information with Viet Nam and train graduate students in national defence.

Lee replied that he was delighted at Viet Nam's achievements and committed to work closely with Viet Nam in regional and international forums.

The two leaders discussed measures to promote co-operation between the two countries in many fields, including education and training, culture, people's exchange, science, technology - and national defence and security.

Following their talks, the two leaders witnessed the signing of four investment agreements amounting to US$290 million between businesses in the two nations.

Sultan of Brunei

Later, at a reception for Sultan of Brunei Haji Hassanal Bolkiah, both Dung and the Sultan said they were determined to work together to promote the implementation of the codes covering the East Sea.

They said this was necessary for peace and stability of all countries in the region

Dung reiterated Viet Nam's wish to have stronger ties with Brunei in all fields and said he hoped that the two countries would soon start negotiations on an agreement covering investment protection.

He added that Viet Nam would like to export rice to Brunei.

The Sultan expressed sympathies for the victims of the recent floods in Viet Nam.

Japanese co-operation

Viet Nam wants to continue co-operating with Japan in develop ing the country's infrastructure with help from Japan's official development assistance, Prime Minister Dung has said.

Dung affirmed that the Vietnamese Government was willing to discuss operational policies concerning infrastructure projects during a meeting with representatives from the Japan Federation of Economic Organisations (KEIDANREN) yesterday morning.

He thanked Japan for providing significant ODA resources to Viet Nam, which has aided the country's infrastructure development.

The Japanese federation Vice Chairman Uchida said Japan at the East Asia Summit, along with member states, would discuss a number of infrastructure development projects in numerous places, including Viet Nam.

Uchida proposed that the two sides should create favourable conditions for Japanese businesses to invest in Viet Nam.

VietNamNet/Viet Nam News