The nations of China and Vietnam have agreed to constructively cooperate to limit maritime incidents in the South China Sea, reported Chinese state media agency Xinhua.
Following increased tensions after China deployed an oil rig into a region of the South China Sea claimed by Vietnam's exclusive economic zone, the two countries have agreed to pursue bilateral co-operation, said Xinhua.
At the Asia-Europe Meeting in Italy, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang reportedly approached Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung to begin a dialogue to ease maritime-borne tensions and co-operate on future maritime projects and infrastructure.
The meeting follows from earlier statements from the two communist countries, with both parties also agreeing to resume military cooperation.
China's "nine-dotted line" strategy has seen the emerging superpower claim almost the entirety of the South China Sea, much to the alarm of neighbouring nations in the region, including Vietnam, the Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia and Indonesia.
Combined with China's increased military spending and sabre-rattling, Vietnam sought to expand its military ties, reaching out to nations including the United States and Russia.
Image Source: Bien Dong/Wikimedia
