Chinese, Vietnamese Communist Party Chiefs Confer in Beijing 　　General Secretary Jiang Zemin of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee held talks with his Vietnamese counterpart Le Kha Phieu in Beijing February 25. 　　During the talks, the two leaders exchanged views on Sino-Vietnamese relations and major issues of common concern in a cordial, friendly and frank manner, and reached agreement on wide- ranging issues. 　　The two leaders defined the framework and development direction for bilateral relations geared to the 21st century. They pledged to work together to establish good-neighborly and comprehensive cooperative relations oriented toward the future between the two countries. 　　They agreed that it is imperative to settle border and territory problems through negotiations at an early date. The two leaders also agreed to sign a boundary treaty this year, and to settle the demarcation problem of the Beibu Gulf in 2000. 　　They pledged to further promote bilateral economic and trade cooperation under the principles of equality and mutual benefit, taking into consideration efficiency and quality, seeking common development, in various forms, in order to promote common prosperity and development. 　　Jiang, who is also the Chinese president, reviewed the development history of bilateral relations, saying that the two Parties and countries have a long history of friendly exchanges, and that good-neighborliness is the mainstream and main theme of the long history of friendship between the two peoples. 　　He said that cooperation in political, economic, cultural and military fields has been strengthened since the normalization of relations between the two Parties and countries in 1991. 　　Jiang said that the Vietnamese Party and state leaders have followed the cause initiated by the statesmen of the old generations to place great importance on the good-neighborly and friendly ties with China, and have made positive contributions to it since Phieu served as general secretary of the Communist Party of Viet Nam Central Committee from December 1997. 　　Jiang said that Phieu's ongoing China visit is of great significance to promoting mutual understanding and trust, friendship and cooperation, as well as to bringing even more stable and fruitful bilateral relations into the 21st century. 　　The visit will also have a positive impact on peace, stability and development in the region, he added. 　　Jiang said that under new, prevailing circumstances, the Chinese Party and government are fully prepared to join hands with the Vietnamese Party and government to establish and develop long-term, stable and future-oriented relations based on the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence and the Four Principles governing relations between parties. 　　Phieu said that the friendly relations between the two Parties and governments have been growing since 1990 when the international situation saw profound changes, and that the two sides have maintained high-level contacts, thus laying a basis for the steady development of bilateral relations. 　　He said that his meeting with Jiang was an event of major historic significance in bilateral relations. He added that the two sides have set basic principles for the development of relations in the new century, which will benefit both peoples and contribute to the prosperity, stability, peace and development in the region and in the world at large. 　　Jiang said that an early solution of the border issue conforms to the common aspiration and interests of both peoples, adding that the further development of Sino-Vietnamese good-neighborly and comprehensive cooperative ties and the consensus reached by the two countries' leaders will create favorable conditions for the settlement of problems left over by history. 　　He expressed the conviction that the two sides will fulfill their glorious, difficult and historical mission as long as they speed up negotiations, proceeding from the general situation of friendly relations and with a strategic view, and in the spirit of friendly consultations, equality, being reasonable and demonstrating mutual understanding. 　　Phieu said that the two countries should work together to resolve the border issue at an early date, so as to establish a peaceful, friendly and stable border. 　　With regard to the Taiwan issue, Jiang expressed his appreciation of the Vietnamese Party and government's adherence to the "one China" principle and their support for China's efforts to safeguard and push forward national reunification. 　　Phieu reaffirmed that Viet Nam recognizes the government of the People's Republic of China as the sole legal government representing the whole of China, and it also recognizes Taiwan as an inseparable part of Chinese territory. 　　Viet Nam will never develop any official ties with Taiwan, or engage in any official contacts, he stressed. 　　"The world is now at the turning-point of a new millennium and the international situation is undergoing profound and complicated changes," Jiang said, "In this way, the establishment of a just and reasonable international order politically and economically while seeking a stable and peaceful environment globally have become the common aspirations of the international community." 　　He added that China will continue to pursue an independent foreign policy of peace no matter how the international situation changes, and stressed that it will make unremitting efforts to promote peace, stability, prosperity and development in Asia and in the world as a whole, and for establishing a new international order. 　　Phieu agreed with Jiang's view on the international situation, saying that it provides opportunities as well as posing challenges to both countries. 　　Viet Nam and China should increase cooperation to promote their respective reforms and development, he added. 　　Jiang and Phieu also briefed each other on the political and economic situation of their respective countries, and exchanged views on ways to administer them effectively. 　　Phieu also invited Jiang to visit Viet Nam at his convenience, and Jiang accepted the invitation. 　　After the talks, the two leaders attended the signing ceremony for an agreement on economic and technological cooperation between the two countries. 　　Jiang hosted a banquet in Phieu's honor yesterday evening. WorldNews 1999-02-26 Page1 Full Story in Chinese