Visiting Chairman of the National Assembly of Vietnam Nguyen Phu Trong called on China on Tuesday to provide convenience for Vietnamese exports to the Chinese market.

 

Trong, on an official good-will visit to China from April 8 to 15, made the remarks in a joint interview with Chinese media, saying currently China enjoys a large trade surplus in its trade with Vietnam.

 

The total trade volume between China and Vietnam hit almost US$10 billion in 2006, up 21.4 percent from the previous year.

 

Vietnam wants to increase exports to the Chinese market, and we hope China will offer convenience for these exports, Trong said.

 

Vietnam and China are implementing the consensus reached by leaders of the two countries during Chinese President Hu Jintao's visit to Vietnam last November, Trong said, adding that frequent high-level exchanges have laid a solid foundation for bilateral relationship.

 

China has been the largest trade partner of Vietnam for two years in a row. Leaders of the two countries have set a target that bilateral trade volume should hit US$15 billion by 2010.

 

There are over 400 Chinese investment projects in Vietnam with a total registered capital of more than one billion US dollars, according to Trong, who voiced hope that the momentum will be maintained to promote Vietnam-China economic ties.

 

Statistics show that trade volume between China and The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) totaled US$160.8 billion in 2006.

 

As a member of the ASEAN and a neighbor of China, Vietnam would like to serve as a bridge to promote China-ASEAN ties, Trong said.

 

(Xinhua News Agency April 11, 2007)