Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Sunday called on China and Vietnam to draw on the successful practice in solving land boundary issues to seek an early settlement of maritime disputes.

The pledge came as Wang, together with Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh, attended events commemorating the 20th anniversary of the demarcation of the land boundary and the 10th anniversary of the erection of boundary markers in Dongxing, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region.

Speaking on the occasion, Wang urged the two sides to promote China-Vietnam comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership in the new era to a new height.

"We will tap into the border areas between China and Vietnam to promote regional cooperation," Wang said. "We will further align the Belt and Road Initiative with other regional development strategies."

The Chinese foreign minister said since the normalization of bilateral ties, China and Vietnam have been committed to settling land boundary issues via dialogue and consultation, hailing the border areas as an important bond and bridge of cooperation for promoting the two countries' common development.

Wang called on the two sides to make the China-Vietnam boundary better serve the two countries' development and people's well-being, shore up border governance system and capacity, and promote regional cooperation via the border areas.

"China is ready to work closely with Vietnam to make the land boundary a peaceful and friendly one for cooperation, common development and prosperity," he added.

Specifically, the top Chinese diplomat said that two sectors would be granted extra attention: cross-border tourism and economy.

"We will facilitate the flow of personnel, goods, and capital, to inject vitality into regional economic cycles, and promote cooperation between China and ASEAN and economic integration in the region," Wang added.

During their talks, Wang said China and Vietnam were first among world countries to have successfully contained COVID-19 and restored economic and social development, demonstrating their institutional advantages and cooperation achievements. 

China-Vietnam relations will become more robust after weathering the test of the pandemic, he said. 

For his part, Pham Binh Minh spoke highly of the relationship between the two nations.

Under joint efforts, the border situation between Vietnam and China has remained stable, while security has been well maintained, and investment has been largely developed, he pointed out. "The border has been a friendly and unity bridge between our two countries," he said.

On behalf of his government, the Vietnamese leader also expressed appreciation for all the assistance China has offered during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Together, the two commemorated the 20th anniversary of the delimitation of the boundary on land as well as the 10th anniversary of setting up pillars to demarcate the border. They also paid a visit to a local exhibition hall once visited by late Vietnamese leader Ho Chi Minh.

The two foreign ministers examined the boundary stones between China and Vietnam and traced in red ink over characters printed on their respective first boundary stones.

(With input from Xinhua)

(Cover: Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi (R) and Vietnam's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh pose for a photo in Dongxing, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, August 23, 2020. /Chinese Foreign Ministry)