Chinese and Vietnamese officials are expressing awillingness to improve relations between the countries. They spoke to reporters Wednesday in Vietnam’scapital, Hanoi.
Relations worsened after China placed an oil rig indisputed waters off the Vietnamese coast. The disputeled to deadly anti-China protests in Vietnam andclashes in the South China Sea, known to Vietnam as the East Sea.
Pham Binh Minh is the Vietnamese Foreign Minister. He confirmed plans to discuss the dispute at talks withChinese State Councilor Yang Jiechi.
He said, "we wish to discuss and resolve thecomplicated situation in the East Sea and to helpdevelop healthy and stable relations between the twocountries for the benefit of both sides and the region.”
Mr. Yang agreed that the dispute is damaging relationsbetween the two countries.
He said, “China and Vietnam relations are experiencinga difficult period. On this trip, as appointed by ourCentral Committee, I am to discuss candidly andthoroughly with Mr. Pham Binh Minh the two countries'relations and current issues in the South China Sea.”
After the meeting, Mr. Yang was set to meet with Vietnamese Prime MinisterNguyen Tan Dung and the head of Vietnam’s Communist Party, Nguyen PhuTrong.
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General view of the meeting between Chinese State Councilor Yang Jiechi (5th L) and Vietnamese Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh (5th R) at the Government's Guesthouse, in Hanoi, June 18, 2014. |
Duong Danh Dy formerly served as Vietnam’s consul general in Guangzhou,China. He said the Chinese government is using Mr. Yang’s visit to seekcompromise.
He said that it would be best to remove the oil rig because of Vietnam’s strongopposition and criticism from other countries. He said China has to decidewhat happens next. He said China set up the equipment in the first place, andnow seems prepared to reduce tensions.
The United States has said it does not take sides in the territorial dispute. U.S. officials say they want countries in East Asia to settle their differencespeacefully.
In addition to Vietnam, China is also involved in territorial disputes with thePhilippines, Malaysia and Brunei.
