China-Vietnam bilateral ties are displaying a good development momentum, and the two countries should take the whole situation into account and properly resolve problems existing in their relations.

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao made the remarks Thursday in his talks with Vietnamese Prime Minister Phan Van Khai, who is on a five-day official visit to China.

Wen gave positive evaluation of the two nations' ties.

He said under the guidance of the principles of "long-term stability, future orientation, good-neighborly friendship and comprehensive cooperation", the two countries have in recent years constantly deepened their political mutual trust, expanded cooperation in all spheres, supported each other and cooperated well in international affairs.

China and Vietnam are close neighbors, and inheriting and developing their traditional friendship is the common aspiration of the two countries and two peoples and conforms to the fundamental interests of both sides, Wen said.

The Chinese government values its relations with Vietnam and is willing to work with Vietnam to raise their good-neighborly and friendly cooperation to a new level, he added.

To reach that goal, Wen put forward four proposals: strengthening high-level contacts, and forging stronger political ties; enhancing all-round trade and economic cooperation in all spheres to double trade volume by 2010; expanding local and unofficial contacts and exploring multi-channel cooperation to consolidate their traditional friendship; and taking the whole situation into account and properly resolving problems existing in their relations.

Khai said he is visiting China for the third time, and he had seen great progress made in China's reform and opening-up in four years' time.

The Vietnam-China ties are developing well under the principles of "long-term stability, future orientation, good-neighborly friendship and comprehensive cooperation", and consolidating and promoting the all-round and friendly cooperation with China is the staunch and long-term policy of the Vietnamese Communist Party and government, which also conforms to the fundamental interests of both peoples.

He said as they are complementary in economy, the two nations harbor great cooperation potential, and Vietnam will take concrete measures to make China its biggest trade partner as soon as possible. He also invited more Chinese enterprises to invest in Vietnam.

In their talks, the two sides also briefed each other on their domestic situation. Wen congratulated Khai on Vietnam's achievements in economic construction and social development.

He said as both are developing countries and both are implementing reform and opening-up policies, the two nations should strengthen exchanges and share their experience so as to further develop socialism.

(Xinhua News Agency May 21, 2004)