China will work together with Vietnam to accelerate negotiations on the demarcation of the Beibu Gulf in order to complete as scheduled the task assigned them by leaders of the two countries.

Chinese Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan made the remarks during an afternoon meeting with his Vietnamese counterpart Nguyen Dy Nien on February 25, who arrived here last evening for a four-day official visit to China.

Tang said the two countries should push forward the follow-up to the bilateral land border treaty signed at the end of last year, adding that this treaty, concluded through joint efforts, is conducive to the long-standing stability along the border, and accords with the fundamental interests and common aspiration of the peoples of both countries.

Tang noted the smooth development of relations between the two countries and parties since the normalization of Sino-Vietnamese relations more than eight years ago, and said that exchanges and cooperation in all areas have been strengthened.

He also pointed to the Beijing summit meeting of General Secretary Jiang Zemin of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and his Vietnamese counterpart Le Kha Phieu in February last year, saying that during that meeting, the two leaders set a framework for relations oriented toward the 21st century and characterized by stability, good-neighborliness, and all-around cooperation, thus marking a new era for bilateral relations.

Nien, who is on his first visit to China since assuming his post last month, told Tang that the two countries are friendly socialist neighbors, and the peoples of the two countries have supported each other for a long time.

The Vietnamese Communist Party, government, and people will not forget China's enormous support and help, he said.

Echoing Tang's remarks, the Vietnamese foreign minister said that the framework set by Jiang and Phieu can serve as a strategic guide for advancing bilateral ties in the new century.

He said that Vietnam will join hands with China to attempt to settle the Beibu Gulf demarcation issue this year, as planned.

The two foreign ministers also discussed other international issues of common concern.