On a fence mending mission to China after an year of torrid ties over maritime dispute, top Vietnamese Communist leader Nguyen Phu Trong and Chinese President Xi Jinping agreed to make joint efforts to manage the South China Sea row.
Rolling out the red carpet for General Secretary of the ruling Communist Party of Vietnam, Xi highlighted the close relations between the two Communist nations and called for efforts to control maritime disputes and safeguard peace and stability in the SCS.
Xi, also General Secretary of Communist Party of China, said he wanted Vietnam to be part of his mega 21st Century Maritime Silk Road (MSR) project launched by him recently to improve China's maritime connectivity with South and East Asia.
During their meeting yesterday, Xi said China welcomes Vietnam's participation in the MSR and Trong said Vietnam is studying it, state-run Global Times reported.
The two leaders agreed on making joint efforts to control maritime disputes and safeguard peace and stability in the SCS which has become a point of bitter discord between the two countries last year when Beijing tried to drill oil in the disputed SCS.
China claims almost all of the SCS as its part which is hotly contested by Vietnam, Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan.
The relations deteriorated between the two neighbours to such an extent that dozens of Chinese firms in Vietnam were attacked in Vietnam in which one Chinese was killed and 90 others injured.
Xi and Trong signed a cooperation plan for 2016 to 2020 as well as agreements to develop mutual cooperation in finance and infrastructure among others.
In a commentary on Trong's visit, state-run Xinhua news agency said the MSR offers a new opportunity to improve the relations.
"Admittedly, the maritime disputes are a hurdle to the development of China-Vietnam ties. But they are by no means an insurmountable challenge that could crush the long-lasting relationship, especially given the friction-reducing potential of the China-proposed 21st Century Maritime Silk Road initiative," it said.
China has made it clear that the project, which covers large areas in the South China Sea, is aimed at promoting common prosperity and win-win development in Asia and beyond, it said.
"The MSR will undoubtedly boost trade along the way. Moreover, just like with similar trade routes, it will also reduce the odds of conflict as more frequent exchanges of commodities and ideas will lead to better understanding between trading partners," it said.
