FOREIGN ministers from Vietnam and China have agreed at talks in Hanoi that their countries should manage existing maritime territorial disputes and not expand them.

"We propose that the two sides in the coming time should seriously implement the mutual understandings of leaders ... well manage disputes, do not have activities that complicate and expand disputes, respect the legitimate rights and interests of each other in accordance with international laws," said Vietnamese Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh yesterday.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi added that "settling maritime disputes is very important for the healthy and stable development of bilateral relations.”

Beijing is ready to earnestly implement the consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries so as to lift the China-Vietnam comprehensive strategic co-operative partnership to a new level, he said.

Mr Wang, who is also a state councillor, urged alignment of China's Belt and Road Initiative with Vietnam's Two Corridors and One Economic Circle plan and pragmatic co-operation in infrastructure, industrial capacity and cross-border co-operation zone.

Both states should boost cultural and people-to-people exchanges and properly manage differences, he said.

Mr Minh said that maintaining and strengthening mutual traditional friendship is in the interests of both countries and also contributes to regional peace and stability.

The Vietnamese side is willing to closely co-operate with China in actively implementing the consensus reached between the two countries’ leaders, he insisted.

Mr Minh signalled his agreement over integrating the strategic development programmes of both countries, as outlined by Mr Wang.