Vietnam and China will broaden and deepen their comprehensive relations, bringing about benefits to the two countries as well as the region and the world, a Vietnamese top legislator said on Saturday in Hanoi.

Nguyen Van An, chairman of the National Assembly of Vietnam, made the remarks when meeting with Gu Xiulian, visiting vice chairwoman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC) of China.

"We would like the traditional friendship and cooperative ties between Vietnam and China to be continuously reinforced and further develop for the benefit of each country," An said, noting that in external relations with countries in the region and the world, Vietnam and China in general, the two countries' highest legislative bodies in particular, have had closer coordination, contributing to the stability, peace and development of the region and the world.

Besides good economic and trade ties, Vietnam wants to have better cooperation and exchanges between the two countries' legislative agencies, especially people's councils in their cities and provinces, since China has much experience in legislation work, he said.

He also reiterated the Vietnamese government's adherence to the "One China" policy, thanked China for supporting Vietnam's causes for national unification and construction, and welcomed recent socioeconomic achievements, the role and the status of China in the region and the world.

Gu expressed her strong belief that stronger political confidence and economic cooperation between China and Vietnam will boost the development of the two countries. In this aspect, frequent meetings on major issues between leaders of the two countries are of great importance.

The target of gaining a two-way trade of 10 billion US dollars in 2010 is totally attainable, because China and Vietnam posted the turnover of more than 6.7 billion dollars in 2004, she noted.

Also on Saturday, Phan Dien, member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee, met with Gu, saying that Vietnam and China will strengthen exchanges and cooperation in all fields, including legislation and investment.

On Friday, Truong Quang Duoc, vice chairman of the National Assembly of Vietnam, held talks with Gu. The two sides discussed issues regarding bilateral relations, including cooperation and exchanges between the NPC and the assembly.

At the invitation of the National Assembly of Vietnam, the NPC delegation led by Gu began its nine-day visit to the country on Jan. 9. The delegation attended the 13th annual meeting of the Asia-Pacific Parliamentary Forum held in Vietnam's northern Ha Long city on Jan. 10-13.