BEIJING: The leaders of China and Vietnam yesterday agreed to limit their differences and maintain peace and stability, as the countries attempt to repair ties strained over territorial disputes in the South China Sea.
President Xi Jinping received a rare 21-gun salute before he and Vietnamese Communist Party chief Nguyen Phu Trong headed for talks behind closed doors.
The two leaders agreed to promote relations between their countries and the ruling Communist parties, Vietnam’s Foreign Ministry said.
China will “strive together with Vietnam to well control differences at sea, and maintain overall China-Vietnam relations, and peace and stability” in the South China Sea, the ministry quoted Xi as saying in a statement.
Trong said that the two countries should not allow territorial disputes to affect their relations and proposed they not take any action that would increase tension in the South China Sea, the ministry said.
Trong and Xi also witnessed the signing of a dozen cooperation agreements covering party-to-party relations, investment, infrastructure, culture and a US$200 million loan from the China Development Bank to the Bank of Investment and Development of Vietnam.
“I hope my visit could help cement our friendship, outline future development of our relations, and lift the China-Vietnam strategic cooperative partnership to a new level,” the Chinese president said in a written statement upon arrival in Hanoi.
China attaches great importance to its friendship with Vietnam and views bilateral ties from a strategic height and long-term perspective, Xi said.
He lauded the smooth development of bilateral ties since the two countries forged diplomatic relations 65 years ago, saying their deepened partnership has brought tangible interests for the two peoples and made important contribution to regional peace, stability and prosperity.
During his visit, Xi will also meet Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung and National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung, and address the Vietnamese parliament.
Xinhua said in a commentary that settling territorial disputes depends on “the two neighbors’ will and ability to properly manage their differences.”
Despite the disputes, China is Vietnam’s largest trading partner, with two-way trade reaching US$58 billion last year.
