China and Vietnam on Tuesday held
"candid" talks about who controls the islands in potentially oil-rich
waters claimed by both nations, the official Xinhua news agency said.
Chinese President Hu Jintao and visiting Vietnamese Communist
Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong "spoke positively" about
resolving their dispute over what China calls the South China Sea and Vietnam
calls the East Sea.
China is Vietnam's largest trading partner but the communist
neighbours have a long-standing dispute over sovereignty of the Paracel and
Spratly island groups, which straddle vital commercial shipping lanes.
Hu and Trong agreed to maintain direct communications between
the leaders of both countries.
Hu said neither side should take any action to "magnify
or complicate the disputes, but instead deal with problems in a calm and
constructive fashion," Xinhua reported.
Hu also called on China and Vietnam to consider common
exploration of the waters and to take concrete action as soon as possible.
Trong said the maritime issues are just one part of
Vietnam-China relations and that Vietnam would work with Beijing to implement
their joint agreement on how to handle disputes over the waters.
Last week in Hanoi, a foreign ministry spokesman said
"settling disputes in the East Sea is a long-term, difficult and
complicated process requiring efforts and a practical and objective approach by
both sides."
The two countries' relations sank to their lowest point in
years in May and June when Vietnam said Chinese vessels twice interfered with
its oil survey ships inside the country's exclusive economic zone.
Trong is in China until October 15.
Source : AFP
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