China hails Vietnam ties, urges proper problem solving

But Vietnamese President Truong Tan Sang told Xi that relations between the two countries had been reduced because of disagreements and disputes, Reuters reported, citing a statement by Vietnam’s foreign affairs ministry.

“The world and this region are undergoing profound and complex changes”, he said.

Although steadfast allies during the Vietnam War, the relationship between China and Vietnam since then has grown increasingly complicated.

Anti-China sentiments are still running high in Vietnam, a year after Beijing placed a controversial oil rig in disputed waters, leading to several small maritime confrontations and deadly rioting in mainland Vietnam, which is one of several countries with competing maritime claims with China.

He will also address the Vietnamese parliament on how to further promote China-Vietnam relations.

While Japan has avoided antagonizing China with similar operations, it is nonetheless forging security ties with Southeast Asia nations, particularly Vietnam and the Philippines, that oppose China’s ambitions in the South China Sea.

But China’s island-building activities in the South China Sea have drawn the ire of Vietnam.

China is pouring massive amounts of sand to expand and fortify small reefs and build facilities which it says are meant to promote maritime and navigational safety and scientific research, as well as military purposes.

During the meetings, Chinese Defense Minister Chang Wanquan urged his Japanese counterpart, Gen Nakatani, against taking any actions that might complicate the situation in the South China Sea. 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.

To strengthen and develop the socialism system in both countries, Xi said the two sides are expected to consolidate their traditional friendship, reinforce the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership, stick to mutually benefitial and win-win cooperation, and facilitate culture and people-to-people exchanges. Before his plane touched down, police in Ho Chi Minh City, about 1,200 kilometers to the south, blocked 80 to 100 protesters from marching on the local Chinese consulate, according to two people who said they participated.

Chinese President Xi Jinping received a rare 21-volley salute before he and Vietnamese Communist Party chief Nguyen Phu Trong headed for talks behind closed doors.

“The Vietnamese have had many years of a love-hate relationship with China”, said Hung, of George Mason University.

Despite the territorial disputes, China is Vietnam’s largest trading partner, with two-way trade reaching $58 billion a year ago.

Xi said China rejects that a country should seek hegemony as it grows, and that it wants to deepen cooperation with countries in the region including Vietnam. China’s recently revealed man-made island-building – including features with airstrips that a few analysts believe could be used by Chinese bombers to target Vietnam in a potential conflict – has raised widespread concerns that Beijing aims to militarize and control the vast maritime area’s sea lanes.