Vietnamese Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son holds talks with Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi (Photo: VNA)

During talks in Hu Zhou city, China, Vietnamese Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son and Chinese State Councillor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi exchanged views on issues related to border and territory, and agreed to implement three related legal documents, coordinate closely in managing their shared land border, and deal with arising problems in a timely manner, so as to enhance mutual peace, cooperation, and development.

They agreed to abide by the joint perceptions reached by their top leaders and the principles guiding the settlement of all maritime disputes so as to maintain peace and security in the East Sea (known internationally as the South China Sea). They vowed to fully and effectively implement the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC) and speed up negotiations for an effective Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC) in line with international law, including the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).