China and Vietnam on Friday agreed to maintain peace and jointly try to resolve the South China Sea controversy.
Chinese President Xi Jinping, who is visiting Hanoi, extended his hand of friendship to Vietnam amid rising tensions in the South China Sea ever since a US naval ship sailed into the disputed waters recently.
Xi’s gesture was returned by Hanoi, which pledged to be “good neighbours” with China, and agreed to maintain peace in the South China Sea. Vietnam, the Philippines and Indonesia are in a dispute with China over some islands in the sea.
“We are willing to carry on with the good tradition of learning from each other, supporting each other, working together for the development of our two countries’ socialism and the happiness of our people,” Xi said in a speech to Vietnam’s national assembly. The two countries agreed to avoid any acts that complicate their dispute in the sea where they have competing claims. This is the first time in 10 years that a Chinese president has visited the country. Vietnam was upset last year when China placed an oil rig in waters contested by it. This led to angry anti-Beijing protests across the country. China later moved the rig away.
Beijing needs Vietnam’s friendship to avoid a situation in which countries in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations join hands against China on the issue of South China Sea islands.