Xi proposed to Vietnam leaders that the two sides jointly engage in maritime cooperation and the development of resources in the disputed area. (Photo : China Daily)
As Vietnam welcomed President Xi for his state visit, the latter has expressed interest in repairing strained relations due to territorial disputes in the South China Sea, according to a report by China Daily.
Beijing is appealing to Hanoi to seek a basic, permanent approach that is acceptable for both sides in regard to the maritime dispute.
"In that process, the two sides should maintain maritime stability and discuss ways of maritime cooperation to create favorable conditions for bilateral ties," said Xi. "Negotiation is the right approach, and through gradually making consensus, the two sides can expand mutual interests."
Xi reiterated the country's insistence on the resort to bilateral negotiations in resolving maritime disputes.
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. After the meeting, the two leaders signed key agreements in areas of trade, finance and infrastructure construction, among others.
Beijing and Hanoi will gauge the feasibility of a planned railway connecting Hanoi with Lao Cai, a northern city on the border with China, and Haiphong, Vietnam's third-largest city. The rail line is expected to be about 381 kilometers long, with an investment of $4.4 billion, according to the Economic and Commercial Counselor's Office of the Chinese embassy in Vietnam.
Xi's visit to Vietnam comes ahead of a leadership shuffle in Vietnam due to take place early next year at a high-level meeting of the CPV. The two countries are also celebrating the 65th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations.
According to Xu Liping, a senior researcher in Southeast Asian affairs at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, Xi's visit will play an essential role in reshaping relations between the two countries.
