China and Vietnam on Monday vowed to further cooperation and properly settle the South China Sea issue so as to promote the stable development of bilateral ties.

The remarks were made while Chinese Vice Premier Li Keqiang and Vietnamese Permanent Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Sinh Hung met before attending the five-day annual China-ASEAN Expo, which starts from Tuesday.

New achievements had been gained in the development of the all-round strategic partnership between China and Vietnam with frequent high-level exchanges and deepening cooperation in various fields, Li told Nguyen.

China attaches great importance to Sino-Vietnam relations, and strengthening mutual trust and expanding cooperation is in line with the common interest of both China and Vietnam, Li said.

China hopes the two sides would continue to further cooperation in trade, investment and infrastructure, and properly settle the South China Sea issue so as to promote the stable development of bilateral ties, he said.

Nguyen expressed willingness to expand cooperation on current basis, boost the construction of major projects and achieve mutually-beneficial development.

Vietnam will properly settle the South China Sea issue via friendly negotiation with China, he said.

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao had made similar remarks when meeting his Vietnamese counterpart Nguyen Tan Dung earlier this month.

Wen pledged to properly handle border and South China Sea issues last Friday while hailing bilateral trade and economic ties between the two countries.