Xi meets Vietnam’s To Lam in Beijing, calls for ‘better handling’ of South China Sea disagreements – Firstpost

President Xi Jinping called for a “better handling” of differences between China and Vietnam over their maritime disputes at a meeting with Vietnam’s new leader To Lam in Beijing on Monday, as tensions rise in the disputed South China Sea.

Just two weeks ago, Lam took over as general secretary of Vietnam’s ruling Communist Party, a powerful post similar to that held by Xi Jinping, chairman of the ruling Communist Party of China (CPC) – the country’s highest political office.

Lam succeeded Nguyen Phu Trong, who died last month after 13 years at the helm.

Xi received Lam for important talks and stressed that at the critical stage of national development and rejuvenation, China and Vietnam should consolidate their development pattern of greater mutual political trust, more solid security cooperation, deeper practical cooperation, stronger public support, closer multilateral coordination and cooperation, and better management and resolution of differences.

He welcomed Lam’s state visit to China – his first foreign trip since taking power.

Xi said Lam’s gesture fully reflects the great importance the Vietnamese president attaches to relations between the two communist parties and the two countries, as well as the high-level and strategic nature of China-Vietnamese relations.

He expressed his willingness to build good working relations and personal friendship with Lam.

Xi said that Vietnam is a priority for China in its neighborhood diplomacy and that the country supports the leadership of the Party of China, takes the socialist path in line with national conditions, and further advances the cause of reform, opening-up and socialist modernization.

Following their talks, the two heads of state witnessed the signing of 14 agreements to strengthen cooperation between the two countries.

Upon his arrival in China, Lam said that relations with Beijing were Vietnam’s highest priority.

Although the leadership between China and Vietnam is taken by the “fraternal communist parties”, tensions persist over overlapping claims in the disputed South China Sea.

Both countries claim the Paracel and Spratly Islands, and Vietnam is becoming increasingly open about the disputes and moving closer to India, the United States and their allies.

Much to China’s chagrin, Vietnam has also upgraded its relations with India, the United States and Japan in recent years to a comprehensive strategic partnership, the highest level of diplomatic relations in the country. This appears to be an attempt to secure international support in the event of a conflict with China.

Both countries fought a bitter war in 1979.

Lam’s visit comes against the backdrop of increasing tensions between China and the Philippines, which is supported by the United States and Japan in the dispute over the South China Sea.

China claims most of the South China Sea, while the Philippines, Malaysia, Vietnam, Brunei and Taiwan make counterclaims.

Xi told Lam that China is willing to maintain close strategic communication and high-level exchanges with Vietnam, firmly adhere to mutual support, actively seek ways to expand synergies between the Belt and Road Initiative and the two corridors and one economic circle strategy, accelerate the “hard connectivity” of railway, highway and port infrastructure, enhance the “soft connectivity” of smart customs, and jointly build a safe and stable industrial and supply chain, state-run Xinhua news agency reported.

Lam, who arrived in the Chinese city of Guangzhou on August 18, said the older generations of leaders of both parties and countries have established deep friendships, and the Vietnamese people will never forget China’s support for Vietnam’s national liberation, independence and socialist construction.

He said his party and country have always regarded the development of relations with China as the highest priority of their foreign policy and strive to carry forward the tradition of bilateral friendship established by the older generations of leaders of both parties and countries.