Progress seen in maritime disputes

China is harvesting progress in maritime problems management as a senior diplomat has confirmed that Beijing and Hanoi are discussing about a possible expansion of joint development in the South China Sea.

The move will help to ease tensions over sovereignty in the region, observers said. Such problems can take decades to resolve fully, they said.

China shares land and maritime borders with a number of nations, and Beijing has consistently called on its neighbors to join it in tapping marine resources before specific disputes are finally settled.