Chinese state councilor to visit Vietnam

BEIJING -- Chinese State Councilor Yang Jiechi will hold a meeting with Vietnamese Vice Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh in Vietnam on Wednesday.

Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying made the announcement at a daily press briefing on Tuesday.

Invited by Minh, the two will hold a meeting of the China-Vietnam steering committee on cooperation, an inter-governmental coordination body for bilateral ties, said Hua.

Yang will also meet with other Vietnamese leaders, Hua added, noting the two sides will exchange views on the bilateral relationship and issues of common concern.

As for bilateral disagreements on maritime issues, Hua said the two sides have maintained close communication and China has repeatedly explained its principle and stance.

Yang will have a candid and in-depth exchange of views with the Vietnamese side on relevant issues of common concern, according to Hua.

The spokeswoman called on the Vietnamese side to work with China to properly handle current affairs.