Vietnam, China seek ways to boost ties Vietnam and China exchanged views to work out orientations and measures to further strengthen the friendship and comprehensive co-operation between the two countries, particularly in trade, economy and investment. Prime Minister Phan Van Khai held talks with his Chinese counterpart, Zhu Rongji in Beijing on September 25 shortly after arriving in the Chinese capital on a working visit. The two prime ministers expressed their pleasure at the strong development of neighbourly friendship and comprehensive co-operation between the two countries over the recent past, particularly after the China visit by Party General Secretary Le Kha Phieu in February, 1999. It helped reinforce the two countries' determination to bring Vietnam-China friendly and co-operative relations to a new height of development in the 21st century, on the principles of "neighbourly friendship, comprehensive co-operation, long-term stability, and future-oriented thinking," which were defined in a Joint Declaration between Party General Secretary Le Kha Phieu and his Chinese counterpart, Jiang Zemin. The two prime ministers exchanged views on concrete measures to further strengthen economic and commercial relations and investment co-operation between the two countries in line with the potential and aspirations of the two countries. They agreed to instruct sectors and companies of their respective countries to promptly carry out a number of key economic projects and to take steps to raise the two country's two-way trade turnover to US $2 billion in 2000. The two leaders also affirmed that the two governments would continue supporting localities, branches and businesses to accelerate joint venture co-operation, especially in the fields of economy, science, technology, tourism, culture and education Prime Minister Khai spoke highly of the Chinese people's achievements in open-door reform and socio-economic development. He said he wished that the Chinese people would successfully implement the Resolutions of the Communist Party of China's 15th Congress and obtain greater successes in building socialism with Chinese characteristics, thus raising China's prestige in the international arena and helping the country steadily enter the new millennium. For his part, Premier Zhu believed that Prime Minister Khai's visit to China would make a great contribution to the enhancement of China-Vietnam friendship and co-operation. He also highly appreciated the achievements recorded by the Vietnamese people in their national renovation, industrialisation and modernisation for the goal of a prosperous people, a strong country, and an equitable, democratic and civilised and socialism-oriented society. The Chinese premier said he wished the Vietnamese people, under the leadership of the Communist Party of Vietnam to obtain greater achievements to welcome the new millennium and the upcoming ninth Party Congress. He took this occasion to express his profound sympathy for flood victims in the Cuu Long (Mekong) river delta
