Stressing its special relationship with China as one of "good comrades", Vietnamese ambassador to China Nguyen Van Tho on Thursday said he was optimistic about solving bilateral issues including disputes in the South China Sea.

Tho told reporters that the two nations will hold a new round of talks on South China Sea issues this year, without mentioning a specific date.?

"I am optimistic about this issue," said Tho.

"As long as the two sides follow the consensus that the two nations' leaders have reached, stick to the principle of equality and mutual benefit, and attend to the overall situation, this issue could have a satisfactory settlement," said Tho.

Tho said the talks will be conducted on the basis of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea concluded in 1982, and based on mutual respect and friendship.

Tho appreciated efforts by the two nations' leaders that have prevented the issue from becoming too complicated before a basic and lasting solution is found.

Disputes over the South China Sea were aggravated last year after the United States claimed "national interests" in the sea at a regional security forum held in Vietnam, which also claims sovereignty of some islands in the South China Sea.

China has always said its sovereignty over the islands in the South Sea China is indisputable and insisted on pushing for a resolution through peaceful negotiations and friendly dialogue according to international law on bilateral platforms.

Commenting on Vietnam-China relations, Tho said they are "good neighbors, friends, comrades and partners".

Following the Communist Party of Vietnam's 11th Congress last week, President Hu Jintao sent a congratulatory letter delivered by his special envoy Wang Jiarui, head of the International Department of the Communist Party of China Central Committee.

Tho said this is a special move that fully demonstrates the special relationship between the two nations' Communist parties, and said he hopes for more inter-Party exchanges between the two socialist nations.

As for Vietnam and the US, Tho said their relations are based on equality and mutual benefit, and made some progress last year.

"We haven't forgotten history, but meanwhile we also look forward to a better future," said Tho.