China and Vietnam agreed to conform to an existing boundary dispute mechanism on Monday to ease tensions caused by an earlier territorial spat in the South China Sea and improve relations.

Vietnam's Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh met with China's State Councilor Yang Jiechi in Hanoi on Monday to discuss bilateral cooperation, particularly in resolving a maritime row triggered by China's deployment of an oil rig in contested islands in the South China Sea.

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China and Vietnam have agreed to approach the maritime dispute "appropriately" through the use of a border dispute mechanism to arrive at a negotiated solution, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said.

Sino-Vietnam ties are at an important stage of development right now. Both sides have accordingly agreed to restrain actions that could potentially worsen the territorial dispute, the ministry added.

Vietnam's Foreign Ministry emphasized it was important for both sides to fulfill their own obligations and pledged to follow through with its commitments.

The relations of both countries are poised to enhance regional peace, development and stability, it said, adding that mutual efforts to implement the agreement would greatly benefit the two sides.

Monday's summit is a stark contrast to the last one in June which marked the worst break in Sino-Vietnam relations since the 1979 border war after Beijing had accused Vietnam of "hyping up" the territorial row, Reuters noted.

But some analysts noted that although the summit ended in goodwill, it didn't really offer tangible solutions to the territorial dispute, The Diplomat relayed.

For instance, the 2002 Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea treaty signed by China and the ASEAN intended to enforce control on actions in disputed waters did not prevent the oil drilling rig crisis.

China-Vietnam tensions have eased since then, especially after China's withdrawal of its oil rigs in July, a month earlier than schedule, others in Vietnam have remained wary of Chinese intentions.

Tagspolitics, Yang Jiechi, Political geography, Foreign relations of Vietnam, Foreign relations of the People's Republic of China