Chinese premier urges Vietnam to calm troubled South China Sea waters
Premier Li Keqiang told Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc on Monday to abide by a high-level consensus to contain tensions in the South China Sea over maritime disputes.
In his talks with Phuc, who is on the third day of his first official visit to China, Li also called on the two nations to deepen cooperation over defence matters and in law enforcement.
[We should] deepen communications on areas of low sensitivity, and not let maritime issues affect bilateral ties
Phuc, in turn, told Li that the Vietnamese government was set on maintaining friendly ties with Beijing, CCTV reported.
“Vietnam will always remember the help from China on Vietnam’s national liberation and economic building,” Phuc said.
“[We should] deepen communications on areas of low sensitivity, and not let maritime issues affect bilateral ties.”
Phuc’s visit is the first by a top Vietnamese leader since a major power reshuffle in the country’s communist party earlier this year. It follows a visit by Vietnam’s defence minister in late August.
