Highlights of Chinese premier's activities in Vietnam

The following are highlights of Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao's activities in Vietnam on Thursday.

Wen met with Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung here and called for proper handling of the South China Sea territorial rights issue.

To properly handle the issue was of vital importance to a sound and stable development of China-Vietnam relations, Wen said.

He noted that China and Vietnam had established a negotiation mechanism to solve the issue, and he hoped the two countries would discuss and sign an agreement on basic principles guiding the solution of issues of the sea as early as possible.

The premier vowed that China would maintain high-level contacts with Vietnam, establish a hotline between leaders of the two countries, and strengthen consultation between all departments to enhance their mutual trust, deal with disputes appropriately and promote common interest.

Wen also called for an early signing of a five-year trade cooperation plan between the two countries. He urged the two sides to promote pragmatic cooperation in all areas, develop a balanced and sustainable trade relationship, and further strengthen cultural cooperation.

Wen met here with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen to discuss bilateral relations and issues of common concern.

Wen hailed Combodia's stance that the issue of the South China Sea should be resolved through bilateral consultations by the countries concerned.

Wen said that being good neighbors, good friends and good partners, China and Cambodia have maintained a high level of mutual trust despite rapid and profound changes in international and regional situations, having promoted and deepened cooperation in various fields and having supported each other on key international and regional issues.

Wen and his Laotian counterpart Bouasone Bouphavanh agreed here to advance relations between the two countries.

Wen said China would like to work with Laos to further develop their comprehensive, strategic and cooperative partnership by building on traditional ties and expanding exchanges and cooperation.

China is willing to strengthen the exchange of views and coordination on major regional issues and work together to push forward relations between China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), Wen said.

Wen urged the two sides to boost negotiation and coordination that would hopefully lead to the early signing of a blueprint for bilateral economic cooperation.

Both countries should also make the best of the opportunities of the China-ASEAN free trade area to conduct mutually complementary cooperation and further vitalize bilateral economic and trade ties, Wen said.

Source:Xinhua