On the afternoon of February 28, 2002, visiting General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee and President Jiang Zemin met with former General Secretary of the CPV Central Committee Le Kha Phieu, during which they held talks in a friendly and candid atmosphere.

Jiang noted that during Phieu's successful visit to China in February, 1999, they jointly set the 16-letter principle guiding the development of bilateral relations in the new century, which has contributed to the long-term development of bilateral relations. He highly praised the contribution that Phieu made to the development of Sino-Vietnamese friendly relations and cooperation.

Jiang said he is pleased to see the 16-letter principle deeply rooted in the people's hearts and the good momentum of bilateral relations. He noted that the two countries have signed pacts on the demarcation of land borders, the delimitation of the Beibu Bay and fishery cooperation, adding that the two countries have also had extensive and in-depth exchanges and discussions on how to run their respective parties and countries and bilateral economic cooperation and trade have also made breakthrough. He said the exchanges between the young people of the two countries have obtained satisfactory results and this is good for the younger generation to take on and carry forward the traditional friendship between China and Vietnam.

Phieu said the 16-letter principle is deeply rooted in the long-standing traditional friendship between the two peoples and is in conformity with the development of bilateral relations, as a result of which the principle is full of life and has promoted the exchanges and cooperation between the two countries in all areas. He went on to say that the two parties and two countries should always trust each other and on this basis, the two sides will not only become good neighbors and good friends, but also be good comrades and good brothers, adding that the Vietnamese side is very confident of this.

Jiang also briefed Phieu on the construction of the CPC and invited him to visit China and have a look there at his convenience.