Vietnam’s newly-appointed foreign minister has asked China to resolve disagreements in the spirit of respect for each other’s legitimate rights and interests, reached consensus, and international law.

Vietnam's Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son. Photo:MOFA

Vietnamese Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son told his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi in a phone talk on April 16, according to the Vietnam’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA).

Son took the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) 1982 as the top legal framework for rule-based approach and expected progress in negotiations of the Code of Conduct (COC) of Parties in the South China Sea (called East Sea by Vietnam) between ASEAN and China.

MoFA said that the two sides exchanged sincerely and frankly on maritime issues, and agreed to continue promoting the role of the current negotiation mechanisms.

During the talk, Son spoke of Vietnam’s foreign policy adopted at the Communist Party of Vietnam’s 13th National Congress, in which the country continues to pursue independence, peace, cooperation and development, multilateralization, diversification and extensive international integration.

Son also said developing the traditional friendship and comprehensive strategic partnership between Vietnam and China has always been identified as one of Hanoi’s top diplomacy priorities.

In turn, Wang Yi stressed the importance on the China-Vietnam relations.

Maritime disputes persist with the latest move caused by China in the South China Sea. Since early March, China has deployed more than 200 vessels to Vietnam’s Dao Sinh Ton Dong (Grierson Reef) in Truong Sa (Spratly) Islands.

MoFA’s Spokesperson Le Thi Thu Hang said earlier this month that Vietnam’s army get ready to defend the sovereignty when responding to a question on the dispatch of Gepard 3.9-class guided missile frigate Quang Trung in Spratly Islands.