China, Vietnam stress friendship

High-ranking officials of China and Vietnam agreed on Monday to effectively control the maritime situation and research and discuss joint development in the South China Sea.

While meeting with State Councilor Yang Jiechi, General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee Nguyen Phu Trong said Hanoi is "always committed" to developing the two countries' traditional friendship and puts a priority on their comprehensive strategic partnership.

Since Beijing and Hanoi earlier this year called for properly tackling disputes, experts said the latest consensus showed their shared determination to avoid further escalation of tension on the sea.

Yang was in Vietnam to co-chair the ninth meeting of the Guiding Committee for China-Vietnam Bilateral Cooperation.

Trong agreed to manage disputes and increase mutual trust.

At the meeting of the Guiding Committee, the two countries agreed to fully use existing procedures between the two governments and to uphold "friendly consultation and negotiation".

The meeting in Hanoi was co-chaired by Yang and Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh.

Beijing and Hanoi highlighted their commitment to further reinforcing exchanges and cooperation regarding border areas.

On strengthening the link between the development strategies of the two countries, both sides agreed to boost construction of projects under the China-led Belt and Road Initiative and the Vietnam-led Two Corridors and One Economic Circle.

Yang told Minh that China-Vietnam ties have "continued developing in an ideal direction" since last year, with joint efforts and guidance of Party and state leaders.

Minh said the two countries have achieved progress in various fields of cooperation.

The two neighbors also vowed to boost military, law enforcement and security cooperation.

Pan Jin'e, a senior expert on Vietnamese studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said Hanoi has projected a reasonable vision in its approach to ties with China, and there has been progress made on the sea, including joint development.

Strengthened economic cooperation is supported by Vietnamese in the border areas, Pan said.

"From a general view, Beijing and Hanoi are on the same page when it comes to peacefully resolving the South China Sea issue, and based on such a shared view, they could discuss their differing views in detail," Pan added.

Shi Yinhong, a professor of United States studies at Renmin University of China in Beijing, said Vietnam knows clearly that sabotaging its ties with China "would deal a heavy blow to its own economy".

zhangyunbi@chinadaily.com.cn