“China-India relationship is in a generally good state”, Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei told the Press Trust of India in Beijing.
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A top diplomat from China is meeting Vietnamese officials today (27 June) to strengthen ties between the countries, just as the Asian giant is engaged in a quarrel with the Philippines over its claims in the South China Sea.
China’s state news agency Xinhua quoted Yang as saying both countries must “appropriately handle relevant disputes and problems”.
“The Chinese side will work with the Indian side to steer the bilateral relations, and deepen cooperation in different fields”, Mr Hong said. Yang later met Vietnam’s president and chief of Vietnam’s communist party.
The visit of China’s State Councillor Yang Jiechi in Vietnam has come just days before the worldwide tribunal is said to pronounce its verdict over China’s stake on the disputed waters.
China has said 47 countries support its refusal to recognise the case.
Chinese diplomats have written editorials in regional newspapers denouncing the Philippine case, which seeks clarification of parts of United Nations maritime law and is seen as a bold challenge, with scope for repercussions. Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam also have claims.
Woody Island, China’s most militarized South China Sea possession, home to surface-to-air missile systems and fighters, is in the Paracel Islands.
Incoming Philippine president, Rodrigo Duterte, on Monday said he would not discuss it until a ruling was made. Yang’s trip to Vietnam was likely less about convincing Hanoi-a claimant and one with a fraught recent history with China-to come around on the South China Sea.
Vietnam is not involved in The Hague case but stands to benefit from a positive ruling for Manila and has echoed its opposition to China’s fortification of artificial islands, the conduct of its coastguard and perceived intrusions into its exclusive economic zone.
The commentary in People’s Daily comes ahead of an imminent ruling from a global court in The Hague on some of the disputes involving China and other countries in the South China Sea.
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In the summer of 2014, China and Vietnam saw a major diplomat stand-off over Beijing’s placement of an oil rig in disputed waters. Since then the two countries have been trying to mend ties. Meanwhile, the USA has accused China of expanding its territory militarising a shipping route that is important to many countries.
