Ambassador Tran Van Luat stressed that over the past years, the exchange of visits by Party and State leaders of the two countries has greatly contributed to boosting bilateral cooperation in various fields, worthy of note is the setting up of a Central Steering Committee on Bilateral Cooperation with a view to helping settle arising problems in the spirit of mutual understanding and sympathy.

The Vietnamese ambassador said that trade cooperation is always in the limelight of Vietnam-China relations. Two-way trade turnover reached US$10.2 billion in 2006, fulfilling its target set by the two governments four years ahead of time. The two sides are resolved to raise the level of two-way trade turnover to US$15 billion by 2010.

In addition, more and more Chinese enterprises and groups are planning to do business in Vietnam.

During the recent visit to Vietnam by Party General Secretary and President of China Hu Jintao, the two countries signed more than 10 important cooperation documents, including four big projects worth US$3.6 billion.

Ambassador Luat said the two sides continued to solve the border issue with the demarcation and marker planting on the land border entering its final stage, which is expected to be finished by the end of 2008. In 2006, the two sides conducted two joint patrols in the Tokin Gulf area.