The incident sparked deadly anti-Chinese protests in Vietnam.
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In a meeting with Nguyen Phu Trong, general-secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee, Xi proposed that the two sides jointly engage in maritime cooperation and the development of resources in the disputed area.
These moves towards dialogue also comes amidst a recent trilateral forum held between South Korea, China, and Japan, as well as recent announcements that for the first time in 66 years, the leaders of both Taiwan and China will meet face-to-face in Singapore for a scheduled conference.
Xi wrapped up his visit on Friday with both sides pledging to maintain peace at sea and build up their mutual trust, just before Vietnam invited China’s nemesis Japan to participate in joint naval exercises and sail a warship into its base in Cam Ranh Bay, Reuters reported.
When President Xi Jinping lays a wreath at the hulking Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum in Hanoi this week, he’ll be reminding Vietnam of the country’s shared communist lineage and Cold War partnership battling the U.S.
“We wondered if he would say something like what he told the USA president – that China has core interests in the South China Sea”, he said, referring to a comment Xi made in September during an official visit to the U.S.
“Chinese leaders long ago realized that to secure long-term stability in bilateral ties, a key factor and challenge is to win over the hearts and minds of the Vietnamese young people”, said Shen Shishun, a senior researcher at the China Institute of worldwide Studies. In their first meeting, they vowed to improve their bilateral practical cooperation on all levels for the benefits of the two peoples. The two countries agreed to avoid any acts that complicate their dispute in the sea where they have competing claims.
Both nations also agreed to manage maritime disputes, effectively implement the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea, and seek to reach a code of conduct as soon as possible.
He asked the youth to strengthen exchange as well as close, effective and practical coordination, reinforcing the solidarity and friendship between Vietnam and China.
He expressed his hope that the young generation of the two countries deeply understand the ties, treasuring and promoting the value of the Vietnam-China friendly neighbourliness to pass on from generation to generation.
The number of student exchanges between the two countries has been growing.
Do not take actions magnifying the controversy, and deal with problems in a timely manner to maintain overall China- Vietnamese relations, as well as peace and stability in the South China Sea.
Vietnam is among several nations that dispute China’s broad, ambiguous claim to about 90 percent of the South China Sea, where more than $5 trillion in global sea trade and $1.2 billion in USA trade transits annually, according to US government statistics. China’s recently revealed man-made island-building – including features with airstrips that a few analysts believe could be used by Chinese bombers to target Vietnam in a potential conflict – has raised widespread concerns that Beijing aims to militarize and control the vast maritime area’s sea lanes.
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This is the finishing touch of China’s top leader to China- Vietnamese relations.
