A: Vietnamese State President Tran Duc Luong will make an official friendly visit to China from July 18-22, 2005 at the invitation of his Chinese counterpart Hu Jintao. The visit will take place at a time when the two countries celebrate 55 years of diplomatic relations this year. Therefore, the visit will be particularly significant, demonstrating the constant policy of our Party and government, which is to further develop Viet Nam's traditional friendship and comprehensive cooperation based on mutual trust with China.

The visit is also evidence of the tradition of meetings between top leaders, which help elevate the relationship between the two Parties and States to a new peak, particularly in economics, trade and investment, which benefit both nations, and for peace, stability and cooperation in the region and in the world.

A: Leaders of Viet Nam and China will focus their discussions on working out key directions and specific measures to develop in-depth and effective cooperation especially in politics, economics, culture, science and technology, security and national defence. They will also exchange views on a wide range of issues of mutual concern.

The two sides will also sign numerous cooperative agreements on economics and trade. On this occasion, the two countries will announce the conclusion of their bilateral negotiations on Viet Nam's accession to the Word Trade Organisation (WTO). China supports Viet Nam's  WTO membership by the end of this year.

The two sides will touch on international matters of common concern and how to strengthen coordination in regional and international forums, thus helping consolidate peace and increase cooperation and development.

A: In the past, the relationship between the two countries has significantly developed. Politically,  following the guideline of "friendly neighbourliness, comprehensive cooperation, durable stability and future-oriented vision" and in the spirit of "good neighbour, good comrade, good friend and good partner" the Viet Nam-China relationship has made its way well into reality.

The two countries' top leaders have met regularly, such as a visit by Prime Minister Wen Jiabao last October, Prime Minister Phan Van Khai's meeting with his Chinese counterpart Wen Jiabao on the sidelines of the second Greater Mekong Sub-region (GMS) summit in Kunming in July this year, and President Luong's visit to China this July. These were important landmarks helping further develop friendly relations and comprehensive cooperation between the two nations.

Ties between sectors, localities and organisations have also been strengthened in order to make them more active and effective. Localities that share borders have implemented specific and realistic co-operation programmes. Viet Nam's Lao Cai province and China's Yunnan have agreed to facilitate their transportation and customs operation.

The annual exchange of youth delegations from the two countries has maintained to share experiences on their involvement in national development, contributing to promoting bilateral cooperative ties between the two nations, as well as educating their younger generations of the tradition of Viet Nam-China friendship and cooperation based on mutual trust.

Economic and trade relations between the two countries have also been progressing. Last year, bilateral trade was valued at 7.2 billion USD, exceeding the target of 5 billion USD, and it is expected to pass 10 billion USD in 2010. China is the number one trading partner of Viet Nam, and China's investment in the country has remarkably increased over the past years. By March this year, China has invested 662.6 million USD in Viet Nam with 322 projects, ranking 15th among the countries and territories investing in Viet Nam. China has provided Viet Nam with 312 million USD in Official Development Assistance (ODA), including 50 million USD in non-refundable aid.

After the Bac Bo (Tonkin) Gulf Demarcation Agreement and the Agreement for Fisheries Cooperation on the Bac Bo (Tonkin) Gulf came into effect last June, the two countries have implemented the two agreements for mutual benefit of the two peoples. Land demarcation between the two sides has also made progress.

A: In recent years, cooperation in economics and trade between ASEAN and China has quickly developed. In the first 10 months of last year, two-way trade was valued at 84.6 billion USD, increasing 35 per cent over the same period last year.

Currently, ASEAN is the fifth largest export market and the fourth largest import source of China. It is expected that by the end of this year, bilateral trade between ASEAN and China will reach 100 billion USD. In November 2002, ASEAN and China signed a framework agreement on comprehensive economic co-operation. This agreement will serve as an important legal ground for them to form bilateral Free Trade Area (FTA) for the six old members of ASEAN  by 2010 and for the four newer members by 2015.

In November 2004, at their Vientiane summit, ASEAN and China signed an agreement on trade in goods (AC-TIGA) and an agreement on mechanisms to resolve trade disputes. Now, they are in the process of negotiating the implementation of the AC-TIGA and discussing a deal on trade in services (AC-TISA) and an agreement on investment (AC-IA)  in a bid to complete the goal of bilateral free trade set for 2015.

As an active member of ASEAN, Viet Nam has coordinated with other ASEAN members to reduce the gap of differences, especially for commodities on the sensitive list. Trade relations between Viet Nam and China have great potential and have been quickly developing. Therefore, as Viet Nam implements its commitments on cancelling tariff and non-tariff barriers for commodities, liberalising services, building open mechanisms for investment, and simplifying customs procedures, all these will help boost trade relations between ASEAN and China, as well as contribute to the development and prosperity in the region.