China’s most senior general Zhang Youxia met Vietnamese leader To Lam and other senior figures during a two-day visit to the country as part of an effort to foster closer defence ties between the two countries.
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The visit by Zhang, the vice-chairman of China’s top command body the Central Military Commission, follows a series of changes in Vietnam’s leadership and a recent flare-up of tensions in the two countries’ ongoing South China Sea dispute.
In recent years the two countries have taken a series of measures to build trust and prevent the dispute over the resource-rich waterway from overshadowing their entire relationship.
In a series of meetings since Lam became leader of the Communist Party in August, both sides have highlighted the importance of settling their dispute peacefully.
However, earlier this month, Vietnam lodged a formal protest against China, claiming that Chinese personnel had attacked 10 Vietnamese fishermen in the disputed Paracel Islands.
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Beijing rejected the allegations, saying the Vietnamese boats were fishing illegally in the area.