Negotiation is 'right approach'

President Xi Jinping (2nd left), who is also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, accompanied by wife Peng Liyuan (L), attends a welcoming ceremony held by General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee Nguyen Phu Trong (2nd right) before their talks in Hanoi, Vietnam, Nov 5, 2015.[Photo by Lan Hongguang/Xinhua]

China and Vietnam share land borders of more than 1,300 kilometers in southern China, and the two countries have been in dispute over territorial issues in the South China Sea.

After the meeting, the two leaders witnessed the signing of deals in areas including trade, finance and infrastructure construction.

Beijing and Hanoi will initiate a feasibility study of a railway connecting Hanoi with Lao Cai, a northern city on the border with China, and Haiphong, Vietnam's third-largest city. The rail line is expected to be about 381 kilometers long, with an investment of $4.4 billion, according to the Economic and Commercial Counselor's Office of the Chinese embassy in Vietnam.

Xi's visit to Vietnam comes ahead of a leadership shuffle in Vietnam due to take place early next year at a high-level meeting of the CPV. The two countries are celebrating the 65th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations.

Xu Liping, a senior researcher in Southeast Asian affairs at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said Xi's visit, ahead of Vietnam's leadership shuffle, will play a role in Sino-Vietnam relations in the next five years.

Bui Hong Phuc, vice-chairman of the Vietnam-China Friendship Association, said Vietnam is seeking to improve cooperation and the stability of bilateral ties through the visit.

Zhao Yanrong in Hanoi contributed to this story.

Contact the writers through xingzhigang@chinadaily.com.cn