China and Vietnam started their talks in Hanoi on the South China Sea issue, both sides agreed to find a basic and lasting solution to the sea dispute, according to a press release of the Chinese Foreign Ministry on Thursday.

The two delegations are headed by Chinese Deputy Foreign Minister Wu Dawei and his Vietnamese counterpart Ho Xuan Son, respectively.

During the talks, the two sides reiterated that it serves the common interests of the two countries and the two peoples to continuously push forward the good-neighborly and friendly relations and the development of bilateral all-round strategic cooperative partnership.

The two sides vowed to fully implement the important consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries and safeguard the peace and stability of the South China Sea.

The two sides said they will explore a transitional and provisional solution for the sea issue and make it not affect the overall situation of the bilateral relations.

The two sides agreed to find a basic and lasting solution accepted by both for the sea issue in accordance with the international laws and regulations including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea concluded in 1982.

The two sides vowed to build the South China Sea a place of peace, friendship and cooperation.

Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Gia Khiem met with Chinese Deputy Foreign Minister Wu Dawei on Thursday.

During the meeting, Khiem said Vietnam would like to work together with China to deepen cooperation in all fields and continuously enrich the bilateral all-round strategic cooperative partnership.

Wu said the Chinese government always looks at the China- Vietnam relations from a strategic and long-term perspective.

Wu said China and Vietnam have broad common interests. The two sides should push forward the strategic cooperation in all the areas in order to achieve common development and prosperity.

(Xinhua News Agency August 13, 2009)