Vietnamese President Nguyen Minh Triet said here on Sunday that Vietnamese people and Chinese people share a long and deep friendship and Vietnam is ready to enhance friendly ties with China.

Triet made the remarks when meeting with visiting Chairman of China's southwestern Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region Ma Biao, who is leading a 1,000-member delegation in Vietnam for trade and culture promotion.

At the meeting, Triet said Vietnam and China's Guangxi share a long borderline. Vietnam is China's gateway to markets of Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

Tiret said China's Guangxi is conducting many major projects in Vietnam and these cooperation projects are running smoothly. Vietnam would like to strengthen ties with China's Guangxi in various sectors, he said.

For his part, Ma said Guangxi has close economic and trade links with Vietnam. The trade value between Guangxi and Vietnam accounts for nearly one fourth the total trade between China and Vietnam.

Ma said Guangxi is the host of the annual China-ASEAN Expo. Guangxi would like to be a bridge linking Chinese market and ASEAN market.

Ma said China and ASEAN have established the free trade area. Guangxi and Vietnam should make full use of the development momentum and push for the development of cross-border economic zone.

Ma said Guangxi would like to strengthen cooperation with Vietnam on education, culture, tourism, technology, health, as well as border management and border development.