On April 17, 2009, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao met in Sanya, south China's Hainan Province with Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung, who is here to attend the Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) Annual Conference 2009.

Wen said the year 2010 marks the 60th anniversary of the China-Vietnam diplomatic relations. Both sides decided to hold the "China-Vietnam Friendship Year" to carry forward the traditional friendship between both peoples from generation to generation. In face of the severe impact brought about by the current global financial crisis, it bears especially important meaning for China and Vietnam to enhance friendly cooperation, Wen said, noting that China is willing to keep high-level exchanges with Vietnam and consolidate mutual political trust. China would like to work with Vietnam to well implement the consensus reached by the China-Vietnam steering committee on cooperation. China is also ready to work together with Vietnam to strengthen planning of future economic and trade cooperation and maintain growth of the two-way trade, Wen said, adding that China supports enterprises of the two countries to cooperate on infrastructure, manufacturing, energy and mineral resources and encourages exchanges and pragmatic cooperation between localities of the two countries.

China and Vietnam have completed the work of land border demarcation and erecting border markers, laying a foundation for long-term peace and common prosperity in the border areas, Wen said. With regard to the South China Sea issue, which is the last outstanding issue left over from history between the two countries, Wen said the two sides should keep eyes on long-term interests and overall situation, actively safeguard stability of the area, boost cooperation of mutual benefit, and take active steps for the joint development in the area at an early date.

Dung highlighted the sound growth of Vietnam-China ties, saying that the completion of land border demarcation and erecting border markers is of great significance in the history of bilateral ties. Facing the global financial crisis, the two countries should increase high-level exchanges and join hands to tide over the current difficulties so as to achieve common development. Dung said that Vietnam is ready to sign a five-year economic and trade cooperation program at an early date with China, promote continuous growth of two-way trade and work with China to expand cooperation in infrastructure, tourism and civil aviation. "Chinese enterprises are welcomed to invest in Vietnam," Dung said, adding that Vietnam is ready to actively conduct exchanges with relevant provinces of China. Vietnam will work with China to make the "China-Vietnam Friendship Year" a success to build up the traditional friendship between the two countries.

Vietnam is willing to properly solve the South China Sea issue in the spirit of mutual respect and consultation, Dung said.