Jiang Zemin

Chinese President Jiang Zemin will travel to Vietnam on Wednesday, making his second trip there since 1994.

Mr. Jiang's visit is scheduled to last three days. He will be in Hanoi until Friday, when he goes to Vietnam's central coastal area.

The two countries are engaged in a continuing territorial dispute over claims to areas in the South China Sea. In late 1999, China and Vietnam signed a land border treaty, but the countries remain at odds over fishing rights in the disputed areas.

Diplomats say it is not likely that Mr. Jiang will discuss the disputes. Instead, they say he will focus on fast-growing economic ties between China and Vietnam.

During the past decade, the two former enemies have been improving their diplomatic relations. As a result, their economic relationship has also rapidly improved and has become the fastest growing in Asia.

Trade between the two communist neighbors was valued at nearly $3 billion last year.

Some information for this report provided by AFP, AP, Reuters.

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