China and Vietnam have agreed to properly handle their dispute over the South China Sea in accordance with the agreement reached by the leaders of the two countries, the international law and the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea.

According to the press release issued by the fifth meeting of the China-Vietnam steering committee on cooperation in Hanoi on Wednesday, the two countries agreed to solve the maritime problem through negotiations and peaceful, friendly consultations.

The two sides also agreed to intensify the efforts to speed up the negotiation and work out a mutually agreeable solution on the issue, and pledged to work hard to sign an agreement as early as possible.

On the occasion of the 5th anniversary of the establishment of China-Vietnam steering committee on cooperation, the two sides agreed that the committee had played a positive role in bilateral relations, served the fundamental interests and common desire of both peoples.

Both sides agreed that under the current complex international background, a healthy and stable development of China-Vietnam relations accords with the fundamental interests of both peoples as well as regional peace, stability and development. They stressed to maintain high-level exchanges, give full play to China- Vietnam steering committee in all-round cooperation, exchange experience on governing countries, and expand friendly exchanges between the two peoples.