General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee Nong Duc Manh left here Friday morning for a four-day official visit to China at the invitation of his Chinese counterpart Hu Jintao, who is also the state president.

During his trip, Manh will hold talks with Chinese leaders on major directions for fostering strategic cooperative ties between the two parties and countries, and exchange experience about national development as well as party construction, Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Gia Khiem told Xinhua ahead of the visit.

"The visit is aimed at creating a new driving force for continuous development of Vietnam-China relations," he said, adding that it will contribute to strengthening mutual understanding and trust.

Manh is accompanied by Khiem, and Tran Van Hang, head of the External Relations Department under the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee, and other senior officials.

(Xinhua News Agency May 30, 2008)