Goodwill moves in dispute control

Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, and Vietnam's Communist Party chief Nguyen Phu Trong address young people from both countries in Beijing on Tuesday. [Photo by Wu Zhiyi / China Daily]

Visiting General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong of the Communist Party of Vietnam was well received in Beijing by top Chinese leaders. As this year marks the 65th anniversary of their diplomatic relationship, Beijing and Hanoi have a golden opportunity to build upon their time-honored friendship and better manage their differences.

Experience tells us as long as the two countries stick to the principles of mutual respect and friendly consultation, they can transcend their differences and remain good neighbors, good friends and good partners.

On Wednesday, the two neighbors pledged in a joint communiqué to control their disputes over maritime issues, comprehensively implement the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea, reach a code of conduct for those waters through negotiations at an early date, and avoid actions that may complicate or escalate the disputes.

Considering that the two close neighbors have just emerged from a downturn in their relations, the communiqué epitomizes the two sides' strong political will to steer their good neighborly ties into calmer waters.

There is no denying the fact that Hanoi has played an undesirable role in heating up the maritime disputes in recent years. To covet China's islands and islets in the waters, it has more often than not resorted to confrontations which have fanned the flames of the disputes in the South China Sea.

The vows of the Vietnamese leader will be conducive to maintaining peace and stability in these waters, and will help build a favorable atmosphere for China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations to work for comprehensive and effective implementation of the declaration by negotiating a code of conduct for the South China Sea.

China and ASEAN members have the wisdom and capability to resolve their disputes on their own. Interference from outside forces will not only complicate the disputes, but also be detrimental to what has been achieved so far.

Under such a backdrop, Beijing and Hanoi's consensus on reaching a code of conduct at an early date will help keep the good momentum in the region going.