1.Premier Wen Jiabao of the People's Republic of China paid an official visit to Viet Nam from Oct. 6-7, 2004 at the invitation of Phan Van Khai, Prime Minister of the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam. During the visit, Premier Wen Jiabao met with General Secretary Nong Duc Manh of the Communist Party of Viet Nam Central Committee, President Tran Duc Luong, and Chairman of the National Assembly Nguyen Van An. In an atmosphere of sincerity, friendship and seeking progress, the leaders of the two countries exchanged opinions and shared a broad and deep perceptive view on promoting bilateral relations, and on international and regional issues of mutual concern. The visit has been a success.

2. The two sides were pleased to see that Viet Nam-China ties are developing rapidly, comprehensively and deeply in line with the motto "Friendly neighbourliness, comprehensive cooperation, long-term stability, looking towards the future" which was agreed upon by the two countries' leaders. The leaders of the two countries have regularly visited each other; mutual political trust has been strengthened; economic and commercial cooperation had obtained a marked improvement; the solving of matters left by history such as border demarcation saw positive developments;A exchanges and cooperation in other fields have been expanded; the two sides support each other and continue to coordinate their activities in international and regional matters.

3. The two sides agreed that Viet Nam and China share common and strategic interests concerning many important issues. In the context that the world is experiencing major changes, the bilateral relations should be kept stable, healthy, and conforming to the fundamental interests of the two countries and the two peoples, while benefiting peace and development in the region and the world.

The two governments are determined to continue abiding by the sixteen-word guidelines, promoting the traditional friendship, expanding cooperation for mutual benefit, satisfactorily resolving sensitive issues and constantly raising the Viet Nam-China relations to a new plane.

The two sides agreed to continue holding high-level meetings, increase the exchanges and friendly meetings between the two countries' ministries, provinces and mass organizations and to effectively implement signed cooperation documents between the two nations. These include diplomacy, national defence and public security, thus enhancing mutual understanding and trust. They aim to boost all-round cooperation, encourage and support the implementation of practical cooperation between the two countries in the economic, commercial, scientific and technological, educational and cultural fields.

The two sides also agreed to make efforts in seeking and increasing mutual benefit while enhancing the exchange of experiences in leading the Party and managing the country, both theoretically and practically, as well as in building socialism and organising "Friendly meetings between Vietnamese and Chinese young people" in order to bolster the Viet Nam-China friendship.

4. The two sides were pleased with the remarkable progress in the bilateral economic-commercial ties. They wished for continued economic-commercial cooperation, expanding the trading of large amount of goods, to ensure the growth of bilateral trade and fulfil the target of increasing two-way trade value to 10 billion USD by 2010, and narrow the two-way trade imbalance. The two sides also wanted to immediately implement defined cooperation projects, actively encourage and support the two countries' businesses to implement long-term cooperation projects on infrastructure and industrial production, and make efforts in improving the standards and quality of economic-commercial ties between the two countries.

The two sides agreed to set up an expert group within the framework of Joint-Governmental Committee for Economic-commercial Cooperation, to actively compare notes on  the feasibility of the "Kunming-Lao Cai-Ha Noi-Hai Phong- Quang Ninh" and the "Nanning-Lang Son-Ha Noi- Hai Phong-Quang Ninh" economic corridors and the economic belt surrounding the Tonkin Gulf.

The two sides agreed to speed up the process to establish the China-ASEAN free trade area. Viet Nam acknowledged China's complete market economy and pledged not to use article 15 and 16 of the protocol on China's admission to the WTO and the 242nd paragraph of the report by the working team on China's entry into the WTO. China also acknowledged that Viet Nam's economy is a market economy and supported Viet Nam's efforts to enter the WTO in the near future. The two sides in a practical and flexible spirit will conclude bilateral negotiations on opening their markets as soon as possible.

5. The two sides agreed that, in August, 2004, the two heads of the governmental delegations, in order to negotiate on territorial borders between the two countries, held a special meeting to reach unanimity and sign minutes on deploying the two countries' leaders' common perception. This helped enhance mutual trust, and allowed satisfactory and prompt solution to problems relating to the territorial borders. The two sides agreed to take effective measures to rapidly implement the content of the minutes.

The two sides also agreed to speed up the process of planting border markers along the Viet Nam-China borderline and instruct concerned localities and relevant agencies of the two countries to do so. During the border markers planting time, the two sides will maintain the status quo in their areas and strictly manage the border according to a temporary agreement on solving border issues between Viet Nam and China.

The two sides highly valued the treaties on Tonkin Gulf Demarcation and Fishery Cooperation which came into force on June 30, 2004. They described the signing of the treaties as a major event in Viet Nam-China relations, benefiting the long-term stability in the Tonkin Gulf and playing an important role in developing the two countries' relationship.

The two sides expressed satisfaction at the progress made in implementing these treaties. They pledged to continue their close coordination to strictly implement the two treaties while restraining themselves from extremist actions or the use of force in the spirit of sympathy and compromise. The two sides pledged to work together for peace and stability in the Tonkin Gulf as well as long-term cooperation and happiness for the two peoples.

The two sides agreed to strictly follow their leaders' guidelines as well as the principles of the "Declaration of Conduct" for concerned parties between member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and China. This asks for real restraint from both sides. It also means neither of the two sides would unilaterally commit any action that could complicate or worsen the disputes, or unilaterally use force or threaten to use force, including the use of force against fishing boats, in an effort to keep stability in East Sea.

Both sides stressed the necessity to maintain negotiations mechanisms on maritime issues, increase the rounds of negotiations and persistently uphold peaceful negotiations to seek basic and long-term solutions that both sides can accept. Before the issue is settled, with the aim of tackling the easy issue first and then the more difficult ones, both sides will continue enhancing cooperation in less sensitive fields of mutual concern, and will gradually expand cooperation to include other spheres that both sides agree on.

6. The Vietnamese Government reaffirmed its determination to implement the One-China policy, to support the cause of China's unification, and its solid opposition to all "IndependentTaiwan" activities. Viet Nam only conducts non-governmental trade and economic exchanges with Taiwan and will not develop a governmental relationship with Taiwan.

7. Both sides reached a consensus on further accelerating cooperation and joint coordination in multilateral fields such as the United Nations, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF), the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) and the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM), developing the expanded Sub-Mekong region, continuing efforts to build an international and equal, political and economic order, thus contributing to maintaining peace, stability, and development in the region and the world.-Enditem