By Han Qiao

    HANOI, May 30 (Xinhua) -- "Chinese people are like good, close neighbors of mine," Bui Nhu Lac, manager of a Vietnamese investment company, kept repeating these words when talking about his Chinese friends.

    Bui's company is under the Vietnamese Ministry of Transportation. More than 40 years ago when Vietnamese were fighting invaders from the United States, Bui worked with the Chinese on transporting daily goods from neighboring China to his home country.

    Everyone who has been through those days will remember that almost all the stuff in the market, from clothes to vehicles, are labeled "made in China," he said, with deep appreciation for the generous help from the Chinese friends.

    Bui still keeps a truck branded "Liberation" from China. It was one of the first batch of trucks that China aided Vietnam during the Vietnam War. "Every time I see the truck, I can't help looking back the old days," he said. China was not rich at that time, but Chinese friends were so generous to us, he added.

    Out of his emotion for China, Bui's company has been in close cooperation with Chinese partners for the past years.

    Bui is not alone in Vietnam. He is one of the many who constantly push forward the economic cooperation between China and Vietnam to consolidate the friendship between the two countries and the two peoples.

    China and Vietnam share borders and they have traditional friendship. In the new era, the relations between China and Vietnam develop unceasingly with frequent visits of top leaders ofthe two countries.

    At the invitation of his Chinese counterpart Hu Jintao, General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee NongDuc Manh started a four-day official visit to China Friday.

    The trip, made after China's 17th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, is believed to be significant for both sides. The top leaders of the two countries are expected to draw a comprehensive blueprint for the China-Vietnam relations, injecting" a new driving force" for the future development, said analysts.