Xi Jinping seeks political solution to solve maritime dispute with Vietnam
President reiterates China's stance that conflicts in the South China Sea should be resolved by the claimants without outside involvement
President Xi Jinping told his Vietnamese counterpart, Truong Tan Sang, that both sides should demonstrate their determination to forge a political solution to their territorial dispute in the South China Sea.
Xi said the two countries should ensure their relationship does not veer off the right track.
"China and Vietnam must both act in a spirit of responsibility towards history and their people, put the broader picture of Sino-Vietnam friendship and bilateral development first, make up their minds to ... push for a political resolution to the South China Sea issue and prevent it from affecting ties," Xinhua quoted Xi as saying.
It was their first meeting since Xi became president in March.
Xi said Beijing would work with Hanoi in pushing their negotiation progress over demarcating waters outside the Gulf of Tonkin. But he reiterated China's stance that disputes in the South China Sea should be resolved directly between the claimants and rejected outside involvement.
Sang said both countries should work together in maintaining maritime peace and stability, so that it would not affect bilateral relations. "The two countries have a deep traditional friendship, and this is a treasure for the two peoples [to cherish]."
After their meeting, both sides signed several agreements, including one strengthening strategic co-operation and another on Chinese banks providing low-interest loans to Vietnamese firms.
