Li sees opportunities despite dispute (2)

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Li sees opportunities despite dispute (2)

By Ding Qingfen in Nanning and Zhang Yunbi in Beijing (China Daily) 08:15, September 03, 2013

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In recent years, the Philippines and Vietnam have tried to put the South China Sea issue onto the agenda of a series of ASEAN meetings to attract global attention on their claims over some islets.

China and Vietnam are both developing economies and "their common interests far outnumber the divergence between them", Li told Nguyen Tan Dung.

"The two sides should boost dialogue and communication, properly manage and control disputes, seek to convert challenges on maritime issues into opportunities for cooperation, and create favorable circumstances for bilateral cooperation on major projects," Li said.

Diplomatic communications have been maintained between China and Vietnam over the South China Sea issue, and the Chinese premier is sending a signal that the maritime issues "are not expected to ruin the big picture of regional cooperation", said Yang Baoyun, an expert on Southeast Asian studies at Peking University.

"It is a wiser choice for Vietnam to expand cooperation with China rather than making trouble at a time when its domestic economy is also facing challenges," Yang said.

Nguyen Tan Dung echoed Li's proposal for properly handling maritime issues, and he said Hanoi has always placed the highest diplomatic priority on the relationship with Beijing.

Ruan Zongze, vice-president of the China Institute of International Studies, said one of the recipes for converting maritime challenges into opportunities is the better use of the China-ASEAN Maritime Cooperation Fund.

"China provided 3 billion yuan ($490 million) for the fund, and there is great room to boost the efficiency of utilizing the fund for cooperation, including search and rescue," Ruan said.

China and ASEAN established a strategic partnership in 2003, and the two announced the start of a free trade area in 2010. Li said the relationship has become "a role model" of neighborly friendship and cooperation.