China and Vietnam have issued a joint communique vowing to better manage South China Sea disputes without jeopardising ties, capping Vietnamese leader To Lam's trip to China. The countries' ruling communist parties agreed to bolster each other's leadership through a new five-year action plan.
China and Vietnam issued a joint communique following Vietnamese leader To Lam's trip to China, expressing a wish to keep maritime disputes from jeopardising bilateral ties.
The document stated, “Both sides agreed … to refrain from actions that could complicate the situation or expand disputes, thereby maintaining stability at sea.”
China and Vietnam will “actively” seek fundamental and long-term solutions to their maritime issues, acceptable to both, through friendly consultations in line with international law.
The countries' ruling communist parties adopted a new five-year action plan to shore up each other's leadership at home.
The communique pertains to disputes over areas like the Paracel Islands (also known as Xisha Islands or Hoang Sa Islands) in the South China Sea, where China and Vietnam have competing claims.
