Chinese, Vietnamese armies agree on proper settlement of maritime row

China and Vietnam reached consensus issues for developing bilateral military relations on Friday, pledging to properly handle their maritime disputes.

The discussion took place between Chinese Defense Minister Chang Wanquan and his Vietnamese counterpart Phung Quang Thanh in Beijing.

During the talks, both sides decided to gradually resume and promote the healthy and stable development of bilateral military ties.

Both armed forces should enhance solidarity and provide a strong guarantee for the governing status of the communist party of the two countries and the cause of socialist construction, a statement said.

The two sides agreed to abide by the consensus reached by both leaders and play a positive role in properly dealing with their maritime disputes and safeguarding a peaceful and stable situation.

Bilateral relationship has been strained since this year due to Vietnam continuously and illegally disturbing Chinese company's normal oil drilling in waters near Xisha Islands in the South China Sea.

In mid-May, a series of riots began at foreign companies in southern and central Vietnam, leaving five Chinese nationals dead, around 20 foreign factories burned down, and some 1,100 foreign companies affected.

The violence came amid tension between China and Vietnam over the maritime disputes.

Chang said the visit of the high-ranking Vietnamese military delegation led by Thanh has showed the positive political will of the Vietnamese party and armed forces in pushing for improvement of bilateral ties.

He hoped the two sides could make joint efforts in pushing for the sound and stable development of bilateral relations.

Thanh said the Vietnamese party and the armed forces attach great importance to the relations with China and value the traditional friendship between the two sides.

The Vietnamese side hopes that the armed forces of the two countries will become the backbone in maintaining bilateral friendship.

The visit of the Vietnamese military delegation, scheduled for Oct. 16-18, aims at strengthening the comprehensive and friendship cooperation between the two countries' armies, according to an online newspaper of the Vietnamese people's army on Thursday.