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.”