China urges communication over maritime disagreements with Vietnam

HANOI - China and Vietnam should manage their maritime situation, maintain bilateral communication and solve their disagreements over maritime issues properly through political and diplomatic efforts, a senior Chinese official said on Wednesday.

Chinese State Councilor Yang Jiechi made the remarks when meeting with Vietnamese Vice Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh.

China has been attaching great importance to the China-Vietnam ties from a strategic and long-term perspective and is willing to work with Vietnam to push their comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership to progress healthily and steadily, Yang said.

But he stressed that Vietnam should stop disruptions against china's normal operations near Xisha Islands in the South China Sea for now and refrain from creating fresh disputes.

Since May 2, Vietnam has carried out disruptions against Chinese company's normal oil drilling in waters near Xisha Islands.

Yang stressed the Xisha Islands are inherent territory of China and there are no disputes in this area, Yang added.