China, Vietnam agree to boost trust amid South China Sea tensions
- Senior officials pledge to ‘strengthen strategic communication [and] deepen pragmatic cooperation’ at defence meeting in southern China
- At separate event, countries’ defence ministers agree to deepen cooperation between their land border militaries
The commitment was made at a defence and security consultation in the south China city of Dongxing on Friday, according to a statement issued by the Chinese defence ministry the same day.
At the event, Shao Yuanming, deputy chief of the joint staff department at China’s Central Military Commission, told Vietnam’s deputy defence minister Hoang Xuan Chien that the two militaries should “strengthen strategic communication [and] deepen pragmatic cooperation … to address risks and challenges [and] push forward the traditional friendship between China and Vietnam”.
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Philippine coastguard sends strong warning to Chinese vessels during South China Sea patrol
Chien acknowledged the “deep friendship” between the two nations and said Vietnam’s military was willing to “strengthen strategic mutual trust with China and make a greater contribution to the comprehensive strategic partnership”.
The statement said the two sides had a “frank and in-depth exchange of views” on the international and regional security situation, and the relationship between their militaries. It did not elaborate.
However, Vietnam News Agency reported that the countries’ disputes in the South China Sea were a main focus for the talks, with Chien stressing the waterway’s “strategic importance in economy, trade and defence security”.
Countries should “work together to maintain peace and stability” and maritime disputes should be resolved in a peaceful way, he said.