Diplomats from China and its neighbour Viet Nam held talks on Sunday, agreeing to take no drastic or military action in dealing with boundary disputes.

Vice-Foreign Minister Wang Yi, who is the head of the Chinese delegation, met and exchanged in-depth views with his Vietnamese counterpart Vu Dung in Nanning, the capital of the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, on how to implement the consensus reached by the national leaders in May, reported Xinhua.

According to a summary issued after their meeting, the two sides vowed to strengthen mutual trust, to prevent and properly handle disputes on border issues.

Bilateral hotline communications and more timely and effective mechanisms should be set up in dealing with issues concerning terrestrial borders between the two countries, it said.

Following the principles of mutual understanding and give-and-take, the two neighbours will not take drastic or military measures in carrying out the agreement on demarcation and fishing co-operation in the Beibu Gulf, which took effect on July 30.

Any actions that complicate or exaggerate disputes over territorial waters should be avoided, it said, and such action also includes military measures or threats to, for example, fishing boats.

The Beibu Gulf Demarcation Agreement and the Beibu Gulf Fishery Co-operation Agreement were signed by China and Viet Nam on 25 December 2000 in Beijing, reports said.

The 10th Standing Committee of the Chinese National People's Congress, China's top legislature, and the National Assembly of Viet Nam approved the Beibu Gulf Demarcation Agreement in June.

During a five-day official visit to China in late May, Vietnamese Prime Minister Phan Van Khai and President Hu Jintao reiterated the importance of sticking to the principles of "long-term stability, future orientation, good-neighbourly friendship and comprehensive co-operation" on bilateral relations.

China is willing to work with the Vietnamese side to expand exchanges, increase mutual trust, start sincere co-operation and seek common development, said Hu during their meeting.

(China Daily August 10, 2004)