Chinese State Councilor Tang Jiaxuan met in Beijing Monday with Le Cong Phung, standing vice foreign minister of Vietnam.

Tang said that Sino-Vietnamese friendly relations, fostered by the leaders of the two countries, have not been easily achieved. The two sides should adhere to the principle of "long-term stability, future orientation, friendly neighborliness, and comprehensive cooperation", and push forward the bilateral ties.

Tang said that the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM), as a bridge between Asia and Europe, has contributed to a new type of equal partnership between the two continents. China attaches importance to the fifth ASEM summit meeting to be held this October in Hanoi, and would like to offer help to Vietnam for this meeting, he said.

Le Cong Phung said that Vietnamese government values the relationship with China. China is an important member of the ASEM, and Vietnam would like to enhance consultation with China towards the enlargement of the ASEM meeting, he said.

(Xinhua News Agency April 6, 2004)