PM heads to China on first official visit

Hanoi (VNA) - Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung and his wife begin an
official visit to China on October 20, which will until October 23, at
the invitation of Premier Wen Jabao and his wife.

PM Dung will also attend the seventh Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM 7), taking
place in Beijing from October 24-54. This is Dung's first visit to
China as Premier Minister.

At present, cooperation between the two countries is being expanded in
most areas including economy, trade, investment, agriculture, fisheries,
science and technology, transport, health care, construction, education and
training, culture, sports ant tourism.

Bilateral trade turnover between the two countries last year reached 16
billion USD. In the first seven months of the year, it was 13 billion USD,
and is expected to be 21 billion USD by the end of the year.

China now has 606 investment projects in Vietnam worth a total of 2
billion USD, standing 12 th among 82 countries and territories who invest
in Vietnam . At present, about 50 universities and schools of Vietnam
have cooperated with 80 universities and educational institutions based in
China .

China is the largest source of tourists visiting Vietnam with
600,000 Chinese coming last year, and 300,000 in the first seven months of
this year.-Enditem