国内英语新闻：China, Vietnam to end land border demarcation this year

BEIJING, May 30 (Xinhua) -- China and Vietnam will complete erecting markers along their land border by year end, a visiting Vietnamese leader said here on Friday.

    In talks with Chinese President Hu Jintao, Nong Duc Manh, Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee general secretary, reaffirmed efforts to meet this deadline set in 1999.

China and Vietnam signed a treaty in December that year delineating their 1,350 kilometers of frontier. They officially started to plant land markers in 2002.

    The two countries finished their latest round of talks on land border demarcation in Beijing last week, vowing to speed up the work.

Chinese President Hu Jintao shakes hands with Nong Duc Manh, Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee general secretary, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, May 30, 2008.

Following the demarcation, China and Vietnam will also sign new documents on regulating the border within 2008, according to a statement on the talks between Hu and Manh.

    Manh, who arrived in Beijing at Friday noon, handed over to China a list of relief materials totaling 15 tons. According to the list, Vietnam will provide 150 tents and 10,000 boxes of milk to the areas hit by an 8.0-magnitude earthquake on May 12.

    After inspecting the honor guards of the People's Liberation Army, Hu and Manh held a two-hour talk in the Great Hall of People.

    The two reviewed the traditional friendship forged by the older leaders in the last century. They hailed the rapid growth of bilateral ties in recent years, citing Sino-Vietnam cooperation in trade, rule of country, regional and international issues, as well as problems left over from history.

    Hu proposed China and Vietnam seek stronger ties in culture, education, science and technology, agriculture and youth exchange.

    Manh echoed Hu's view, reiterating his country's efforts to work more closely with China in various fields.

    Hu called for an early blueprint outlining a five-year trade cooperation between the two countries.

    In response, Manh encouraged Chinese businessmen to invest in big projects in Vietnam and help his country develop in a sustainable manner.

    Hu suggested a proper solution to existing issues between the countries on the basis of friendly consultation and mutual benefit.

    Manh shared Hu's view and said the two countries should communicate promptly about their concerns.

    They also exchanged views on party building and international issues.

    After the talk, Hu and Manh witnessed the signing of several bilateral deals on protection and quarantine of animals and plants, as well as in other fields.

    During Manh's four-day tour, he will also visit the east Jiangsu Province.