Chinese President Hu Jintao told visiting Vietnamese Prime Minister Phan Van Khai that the two countries should increase mutual trust and sincere cooperation.

As two socialist nations, Hu said, China and Vietnam should step up their full-range cooperation and friendship in the face of a complicated and changing world.

"It would be good for the reform, opening and construction cause of the two countries," he said. "It will also serve the fundamental interests of both countries and peoples."

Phan Van Khai arrived in China Thursday on a five-day official visit to China. He has been met by Chinese top leaders including Wu Bangguo, Wen Jiabao and Jia Qinglin.

Hu told the Vietnamese prime minister that the Communist Party of China, the Chinese government and people all treasure the traditional friendship with Vietnam and are ready to work with Vietnam in accordance with the principles of "long-term stability, future orientation, good-neighborly friendship and comprehensive cooperation (called the 16-character principle)."

"We are willing to work with the Vietnamese side to expand exchange, increase mutual trust, start sincere cooperation and seek common development," Hu said.

Khai said the Communist Party of Vietnam and government will as always strengthen its full-range friendship with China in accordance with the 16-character principle because keeping friendly ties with China has been good to the two peoples and serves the "highest interests of Vietnam."

He stressed that the Vietnamese side believes the traditional friendship between Vietnam and China, nurtured by the elder generations, will have new development in the new century.

Apart from Beijing, the Vietnamese prime minister will also visit Hubei Province in central China and Liaoning Province in northeast China.

Source: Xinhua