Wu Bangguo (R), chairman of the Standing Committee of China's National People's Congress, the country's top legislature, shakes hands with visiting Vietnamese President Tran Duc Luong at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing July 19, 2005.

Top Chinese leaders met with visiting Vietnamese President Tran Duc Luong in Beijing on July 19 and the two sides agreed to deepen parliamentary and trade relations.

Wu Bangguo, chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, China's top legislature, met with Luong at the Great Hall of the People.

Wu said China attaches great importance to its relationship with Vietnam and hopes to deepen the relationship from a strategic perspective.

The top legislator said parliaments of the two countries should increase exchanges for the further development of state-to-state relations.

In a separate meeting, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao said China has made it a long-term policy to develop friendly ties and seek common prosperity with Vietnam.

"China is ready to work with Vietnam to implement the consensus reached by leaders of the two countries and conduct long-term trade and economic cooperation in the spirit of mutual benefit," Wen said.

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao (R) shakes hands with visiting Vietnamese President Tran Duc Luong during their meeting in Beijing July 19, 2005.

The Chinese premier also hoped that the two sides would quicken the process of land border demarcation and start joint development as early as possible in the Beibu Bay and the South China Sea.

Luong said Vietnam hopes to strengthen its comprehensive cooperative relationship with China as the two celebrated the 55th anniversary of the establishment of their full diplomatic relations.

Chinese President Hu Jintao held formal talks with Tran Duc Luong Monday after his arrival. Hu put forward four-point proposal to further Sino-Vietnamese ties, including promoting high-level contacts and trade, proper handling border issue, and increasing exchange in non-governmental arena.

Luong said in his meeting with Wu Bangguo and Wen Jiabao that Vietnam hopes to develop closer relations with China in areas of trade, tourism, culture, education and sports.

In addition, he said Vietnam will increase parliamentary exchanges with China and promote cooperation with China to jointly develop the Beibu Bay and the South China Sea in accordance with the consensus reached by both sides.

Source: Xinhua