Aiming to promote stability and cooperation in the region, Chinese President Xi Jinping on Wednesday called for healthy relations between China and Vietnam during a meeting with Chairman of Vietnamese National Assembly Nguyen Sinh Hung in Beijing. The initiative is a welcome development as tension continues to spiral in Southeast Asia over contested maritime territories.

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He suggested that the two sides cement their political relations and properly agree with divergences. "China and Vietnam have far more common interests than differences," said Xi.

Trading between the two countries has reached beyond $25 billion in 2011. According to a 2013 report by the HSBC Trade Connection, China is predicted to become Vietnam's largest single trading partner, overtaking the United States, by 2030. 

Xi stressed that the China's National People's Congress (NPC) and Vietnam's National Assembly have important roles to execute in their respective countries' political outlook, and should improve communication and cooperation to improve bilateral ties and the friendship between their peoples.

The two countries have a long history of cooperations in the past and, while the recent territorial conflict may have affected in the stability of their friendship, both are willing to work out differences and once again work towards a common goal.

He added that the improvement of Vietnam-China relations is in the primary interest of the both countries and will contribute to regional peace and development in SouthEast Asia,.

On hia part, Hung said Vietnam is ready to work with China to enhance political mutual trust and expand cooperation in various areas of mutual interest.

Last year, China declared that it would not resort to military conflict with Vietnam while the two were contesting over an oil rig in disputed territory in the South China Sea. China has kept that promise - at the time the country had 71 ships in the disputed area while Vietnam had 61.

TagsSino-Vietnamese, Vietnam