China and Vietnam today agreed to "properly handle" the sensitive issues in bilateral ties as they held high-level talks, but there was no sign of compromise between the two Communist neighbours over the presence of a Chinese oil rig in the disputed South China Sea.
State Councilor Yang Jiechi, ranked higher than the Foreign Minister, met a host of high-level Vietnamese officials including Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung and General Secretary of the Vietnamese Communist Party of Vietnam Nguyen Phu Trong during his one day visit to Hanoi.
Coinciding with Yang's visit to Hanoi, Vietnamese official media reported that China was planning to move the oil rig whose presence from May 1 sparked anti-China riots in Vietnam in which four Chinese workers were killed and over 100 others injured.
Over 460 factories many with Chinese investments were torched.
A report by the Chinese state-run Xinhua news agency said China and Vietnam agreed to properly handle the sensitive issues in bilateral ties to avoid hurting overall ties between the two countries following today's talks which is the first direct dialogue since May.
"The Chinese government and the ruling Communist Party of China are willing to work with the Vietnamese government and party to jointly promote a healthy and stable comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership," Yang told Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh.
He, however, blamed Vietnam for the strained ties, saying Hanoi continuously and illegally disturbed oil rig operations and asserted that Xisha Islands were China's "inherent territory, free of any dispute".
"China would take all necessary measures to protect national sovereignty and maritime rights, as well as ensuring the safe and smooth running of the oil exploration," he said.
But at the same for the current maritime issue over rig, Yang said the two sides should avoid making it amplified, complicated and internationalised.
He also called on Vietnam to take effective measures to protect Chinese individuals and organisations in Vietnam, create necessary conditions and atmosphere for both sides to solve the issues and quickly bring bilateral cooperation back to normal in all fields.
Vietnam has said the use of the oil rig violates its sovereignty and has demanded that China withdraw it, while China says Vietnam should stop harassing with its normal oil drilling activity.
Vietnam is willing to work with China on maritime issues, maintain close communication, manage tensions and properly deal with the issues, as well as telling the international community that Vietnam and China are able to resolve their differences by peaceful means, he said.
