Vietnam and China should work together to solve disputes at sea though peaceful negotiations and based on international law, Vietnamese Defense Minister Phung Quang Thanh said.

>> Vietnam reiterates sovereignty over Truong Sa, Hoang Sa >> Vietnam demands China to end sovereignty violation The minister made the statement when meting with Chinese counterpart Chang Wanquan on the sidelines of the seventh ASEAN Defense Ministers’ Meeting (ADMM-7) in Brunei’s capital city of Bandar Seri Begawan on May 7.

Such disputes must be settled based on the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC), Thanh said. The strengthening of cooperation, solidarity and mutual trust and understanding between the two countries is an important factor to maintain peace and stability in the region, the minister said. Thanh also said the two countries should work together to solve disputes at sea though peaceful negotiations and based on international law, the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC), as well as to boost the establishment of a Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC) between ASEAN and China. In order to strengthen mutual trust and understanding, the two countries should step up defense dialogue strategy, boost exchanges and consultations at all levels, and set up hot lines between the two sides between their ministries of defense and border guard forces, he added. In reply, Chinese minister Chang Wanquan affirmed that China always highly values ties with Vietnam and will continue working with Vietnam to boost the two countries’ relations, including defense cooperation.

He also said he appreciated the establishment of the ADMM-Plus mechanism and Vietnam’s successful organization of the first expanded ADMM.