Le Hong Anh, special envoy of Nguyen Phu Trong, general secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee, made a two-day visit to China on Tuesday and Wednesday. Both sides share a common aspiration to improve bilateral relations.

This visit offers an important chance for bilateral communication and exchange. Since May, Vietnamese ships have been obstructing drilling operations by Chinese companies in the South China Sea, resulting in huge losses to the Chinese companies as well as casualties. This is harmful to bilateral relations. Communication between the two countries is an effective way to reduce tension and improve relations.

Before Li’s visit, Vietnam had offered an olive branch to China by expressing regret over the huge losses and the casualties, and by compensating Chinese workers. But the South Sea disputes are still blocking the development of the China-Vietnam relationship. Some Vietnamese officials are pessimistic about the visit as they believe that China will not give up its ambition to “dominate the world's oceans”. Western media have given a lot of coverage to the South China Sea Disputes, intimating that Vietnam and the US will work together to deal with China and provoking anti-China sentiments in Vietnam. Some parties are attempting to enforce a set of “rules”. According to these rules, China is the one which has to make sacrifices and compromises in order to resolve the South Sea Disputes. These rules indicate that motive of the forces involved is to do harm to the China-Vietnam relationship. Fully aware of this, China has made public its consistent position - China will not seek hegemony, but will resolve to safeguard its sovereignty.

Vietnam should understand that China’s development can offer it a golden opportunity. Sound development of bilateral relations will benefit both sides. Steering clear of attempts to establish unequal conditions will help to consolidate the win-win situation.

The article is edited and translated from《别让南海问题搅了中越大局》, source: People’s Daily Overseas Edition, author: Hua Yisheng