vn china cooperation
hoover'sonline
9dec1
12/05/2001 Vietnam and China have many similarities and will further promote cooperative
ties, said Trade Minister Vu Khoan in an interview on television upon his return
from accompanying Party Chief Nong Duc Manh on his visit to China between Nov 30
and Dec 4. Khoan said that Manh met with all seven Politburo members of the Chinese
Communist Party, a rare event in trips by Vietnamese leaders to China
Leaders of the two countries agreed that both Vietnam and China are on their socialism and reform paths, and are at the same development level, so they are able to share experiences.
The two sides agreed to further enhance cooperation in economics, trade, science, technology, culture and education. They will also join hands in large and important projects.
They pledged to speed up the ratification of the Tonkin Gulf Delimitation Agreement and the Fishing Agreement, and to hold talks on the East Sea disputes.
Manh then visited Shanxi province and Zhejiang province.
Vietnam has exported goods worth $1.65 billion to China and imported goods worth $1.82 billion from the country since the beginning of the year, according to the General Customs Department.
Crude oil, seafood, vegetables, fruits, rubber latex, cashew and garment are Vietnam's key exports to its neighbor.
Motorbikes, petroleum, machines, materials for the textile and garment industry, leather and footwear, fertilizers and steel are the main Chinese exports to Vietnam.
Vietnam received 54 Chinese projects worth $112 million in the Jan - Nov period, up 100% in terms of project numbers and 260% in terms of capital against the same period last year.
That brought the number of Chinese projects in Vietnam to 350, with combined capital of $3.08 billion. China is the fifth largest foreign investor in Vietnam.
The Nhan Dan (The People) daily, the Party's mouthpiece, today ran an editorial praising cooperative ties between the two countries and hailing the success of Manh's trip. The comments were totally different from the paper's bitter editorial warning of possible US interference in Vietnam's internal affairs by the Vietnam Human Rights Act after the National Assembly ratified the Vietnam - US Bilateral Trade Agreement.
(The People Dec 5 p1, Investment Dec 5 p3, VTV News Dec 4, 7pm, Investment Dec 3 p1)
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