China, Vietnam vow to resolve dispute in S China Sea

BEIJING - Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with his Vietnamese counterpart Pham Binh Minh in Beijing on Wednesday when they pledged to resolve the dispute between the two countries in the South China Sea.

Reiterating China's stance, Wang said the two countries should push ahead with maritime cooperation and work together to control the dispute and turn challenges into opportunities.

Pham said the Vietnamese side is ready to resolve the dispute and work with China for stability in the area.

During the meeting, Wang and Pham agreed to maintain high-level contact, advance cooperation in trade and inter-connectivity, and increase cultural and youth-to-youth exchanges to lay a more solid social foundation for friendship.

China and Vietnam share common strategic interests and immense room for cooperation, Wang said, calling for solidarity and cooperation to counter challenges and grasp opportunities for common development.

Pham said Vietnam attaches great importance to ties with China and stands ready to enhance strategic cooperation between the two countries in a sustained way.

Pham is in Beijing to attend a special China-ASEAN foreign ministers meeting on Thursday to mark the 10th anniversary of the formation of the China-ASEAN strategic partnership.