With tensions mounting in the region over rights to oil-rich South China Sea,the Chinese leadership has stepped up wooing the littoral states,offering a "win-win cooperation" to Vietnam. A high-level Vietnamese military delegation has called on Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping yesterday during which the latter said Beijing would enhance friendly cooperation with Hanoi and ensure healthy development of bilateral relations. China's new overtures to Vietnam comes in the wake of recent row with New Delhi over Indian companies' oil exploration bids off Vietnamese coast in South China Sea. Xi,who is expected to take over as president after the retirement of the incumbent Hu Jintao in 2013,said the way China-Vietnam relations had developed proved that by sticking to friendly consultation,equality,mutual benefits and win-win cooperation,the two countries could advance their ties and achieve peaceful development and prosperity. "China is willing to join hands with the international community,including Vietnam,to make positive contributions to building a harmonious world," Xinhua quoted him as telling the delegation,led by Ngo Xuan Lich,director of the General Department for Politics of the Vietnamese People's Army. In response,Ngo Xuan Lich said his country treasures its traditional friendship with China. The Vietnamese people would not forget the assistance and support that Chinese people gave Vietnam with regards to its national liberation and socialist construction,he said. Vietnam is committed to deepening all-round strategic cooperation partnership with China in new historical period,Ngo Xuan Lich said,vowing joint efforts with China to enhance understanding and trust,maintain friendship and contribute to regional peace,stability and development. Their meeting took place against the backdrop of strong objections aired by China over Vietnamese decision to give two blocks for oil exploration in South China Sea,which Beijing claims as its waters. India rebuffed Chinese objections saying that its cooperation with Vietnam is in accordance with international laws and it is set to grow. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Jiang Yu told media here on Thursday that China has indisputable sovereignty over South China Sea and its islands and Beijing is opposed to any country engaged in oil and gas exploration there. The row surfaced ahead of External Affairs Minister S M Krishna's visit to Hanoi to attend India-Vietnam Joint Economic Joint Committee meeting taking place today. In an editorial,the state-run Global Times said that Vietnam's efforts to rope in foreign companies does not simply concern the exploration but also constitutes a "serious political provocation". "Both Vietnam and the companies are clear about this but fake innocence. But as opposition and pressure increases,their venturous action is less likely to succeed," it said. "As for ONGC (which has been given contract by Vietnam),China should resolutely stop it from pursuing this course of action. Reasoning many used first,but if India is persistent in this,China should try every means possible to stop this cooperation from happening," the paper said yesterday. "India's ambition is growing along with its rapid economic growth. Some Indian even regard its intervention in South China Sea as being able to counter China's behaviour in the Indian Ocean. The joint exploration between India and Vietnam may be seen as an Indian test of China's will. India is seeking influence akin to US in the region," it said.
