China's Communist Party official Zhou Yongkang (R) addresses the opening ceremony of a party theory seminar jointly held by the communist parties of China and Vietnam in Nha Trang, Vietnam on Friday, October 31, 2008. [Photo: Xinhua]

The communist parties of China and Vietnam on Friday started a seminar on issues concerning agriculture, rural areas and farmers.

"As both China and Vietnam are countries with a dominant rural population, the issues of agriculture, rural areas and farmers have always been high on the agenda of the two countries' ruling communist parties," a senior official of the Communist Party of China (CPC), Zhou Yongkang, told the seminar.

The seminar was the fourth theory study jointly held by the CPC and the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV).

With the theme of "theory and practice on agriculture, rural areas and farmers -- experiences of China and Vietnam," the three- day seminar gathered about 60 representatives from the two countries.

While addressing the seminar, Zhou Yongkang, one of the nine- member Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, said the CPC has given priority to the issues of agriculture, rural areas and farmers.

"We stick to regarding agriculture as a cornerstone, keeping the orientation of the socialist market economy reform, following the agricultural modernization path with Chinese characteristics and ensuring the farmers' material interests and democratic rights, " he said.

"China's rural areas are undergoing changes, which brought about both favorable conditions and challenges."

The seminar came weeks after the CPC's latest meeting in October had adopted a decision to promote the rural reform and the CPV discussed at its annual session about how to boost the rural reform.

"Standing at a critical development stage, the communist parties of the two countries simultaneously focused on rural issues. Thus the seminar on this topic will be of great use," Zhou said.

Zhou said he hoped the theoretic experts would make good use of this opportunity to talk freely, learn from each other and turn the study into a driving force for the countries' development.

In his speech at the seminar, Truong Tan Sang, member of the Political Bureau of the CPV Central Committee, said the seminar offered a chance for scholars to exchange theoretic findings and practical experiences on rural issues.

The seminar will vigorously promote the development of the two countries and enrich their comprehensive strategic partnership of cooperation, Sang said.

Located in the coastal province of Khanh Hoa, Nha Trang was the second leg of Zhou's five-day visit here. He will also travel to Ho Chi Minh City in southern Vietnam.