BEIJING, April 10 (Xinhua) -- 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 10 billion U.S. dollars 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 15 billion dollars by 2010.

    There are over 400 Chinese investment projects in Vietnam with a total registered capital of more than one billion U.S. 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 160.8 billion U.S. dollars 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.