Chinese President Hu Jintao met today with Chairman of the Vietnamese National Assembly Nguyen Phu Trong on bilateral ties.

The Communist Party of China (CPC) and the Chinese government attach much importance to the development of Sino-Vietnamese relations, said Hu, who is also general secretary of the CPC Central Committee.

In recent years, the National People's Congress of China and Vietnamese National Assembly have boosted their friendly exchanges and cooperation, which also contribute to the development of bilateral ties, he added.

As China and Vietnam have the same social system and similar national condition, the two legislatures should play an important role in building socialist democracy and governing their country by law, Hu said.

The Chinese president also hoped both sides would strengthen their cooperation to further promote economic development and legal system in their own country.

Trong said Hu's ongoing visit is of great importance to the development of the traditional Vietnam-China friendly cooperation, adding that the Vietnamese National Assembly expected closer exchanges and cooperation with China's NPC to boost their bilateral ties.

Hu is in Hanoi for a state visit, where he will also attend the14th economic leaders' informal meeting of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) slated for Saturday and Sunday.