"The Vietnam-China relations are developing very finely, especially in the fields of economy and trade," Vietnamese foreign minister Nguyen Dy Nien said at a press conference Friday in Hanoi.

In the coming time, the ties between the two countries will be cemented, he said at the press conference, held on the occasion of the ongoing 10th National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam.

Vietnam and China handled border and Beibu Gulf issues, and will embark on more cooperative programs, like acceleration of the construction of two economic corridors and the Beibu Gulf economic belt, he said.

"China is Vietnam's leading trade partner. Tourist activities are effervescent. Nearly 1 million Chinese visitors come to Vietnam a year. More and more Vietnamese people are visiting China, " the minister stated.

Leaders of the two countries defined a 16-character principle ( long-term stability, future orientation, good-neighborly friendship and comprehensive cooperation) and a four-good spirit ( good neighbors, good friends, good comrades and good partners), which are beneficial to the reinforcement and development of the bilateral relations, he noted.

The eight-day congress, starting on April 18, is to mainly define orientations for the country's socioeconomic development in the 2006-2010 period, and elect the party's leadership board in the 10th tenure.

Source: Xinhua