China and Vietnam agreed to speed up the survey of borderlines and push economic exchanges to a new high after talks between top leaders Monday.

In discussions with Communist Party of Vietnam General Secretary Nong Duc Manh and Vietnamese President Tran Duc Luong, visiting President Hu Jintao proposed to complete the survey of land borderlines between the two countries and promote marine co-operation.

He also suggested that both sides work hard to achieve the stated target of US$10 billion annual two-way trade earlier.

Nong agreed with Hu's proposal, saying bilateral ties are growing steadily both politically and economically. "It is the consistent policy of the party and the government of Vietnam to give top priority to the relations between our two parties and two governments," said Nong.

Hu said China and Vietnam are continuing a friendly relationship under the agreed principles of long-term stability, future orientation, good neighbourly friendship and all-round co-operation.

The two sides signed a host of deals on economic and technological co-operation after the talks.

Hu arrived in Hanoi Monday for a three-day official visit as a guest of Nong and Tran. The visit, highlighting the 55th anniversary of diplomatic ties between China and Vietnam, was the first since he took office as general secretary of Communist Party of China Central Committee and president.

Thousands of people waving Vietnamese and Chinese flags cheered Hu in front of Vietnam's Presidential Hall where a welcome ceremony was held. "To ordinary Vietnamese, China is not only a big country but also a friendly neighbour," said Kap Thanh Long, a reporter from local newspaper Thanh Nien.

"China and Vietnam had some conflicts in history, but we've let bygones be bygones and are looking towards the future."

Asked how familiar Vietnamese are with the China, Kap said more and more Chinese music, TV programmes and movies are becoming part of daily life.

"I recently watched the film Seven Swords, and it's amazing," he said, referring to the high-profile martial-arts Chinese film.

China and Vietnam normalized relations in 1991, and have in recent years seen frequent exchanges of high-ranking visits and growing mutual trust.

In a joint communique issued during Tran's visit to Beijing in July, both governments agreed to speed up the survey of a land boundary a touchy issue in bilateral relations so as to reach a new land border agreement by the end of 2008.

The two countries have been working together since last July on fisheries co-operation in Beibu Bay. A joint navy patrol in the Beibu Bay area is likely to be launched by the end of this year.

Beijing and Hanoi also agreed on joint exploration in disputed areas in the South China Sea that are potentially rich in energy resources.

Growing political ties have been coupled with booming business. China is now the largest trade partner of Vietnam, with bilateral trade volume hitting a record US$6.74 billion in 2004.

"Both China and Vietnam have realized that sustainable economic development is very important in their relations," said Wu Jianmin, president of China Foreign Affairs University.

He said relations between the two countries "have entered a well-developing period" despite some ups and downs they have undergone. "The two countries share common interests although disputes remain, which requires consultation from both sides," he said.

Source: China Daily