Vietnam agrees talks key to disputes

Vietnam respects China's stance on the South China Sea arbitration case, which was unilaterally initiated by the Philippines, and maintains that such disputes should be solved peacefully through negotiations, Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc said on Thursday night.

During a meeting with Premier Li Keqiang in Ulaanbaatar, the capital of Mongolia, Phuc also said Vietnam stands ready to push forward bilateral maritime negotiations and properly manage differences with China, in order to contribute to regional peace and stability.

Li called on Vietnam to jointly safeguard peace and stability with China in the South China Sea.

The meeting was held at the hotel where Li and his delegation are staying on the eve of the 11th Asia-Europe Meeting summit.

Phuc said the common interests of Vietnam and China far override their disparities, and Vietnam ranks its ties with China as a top priority in its foreign relations. He added that Vietnam is willing to maintain high-level exchanges with China and enhance cooperation in various fields.

Li also met with Laotian Prime Minister Thongsing Thammavong and Latvian President Raimonds Vejonis on Thursday.