The Vietnamese ambassador to China Tran Van Luat played down the South China Sea disputes between Viatnam and China, saying everything could be solved between the two traditional friends.

"Vietnam and China could find a solution to the South China Sea disputes under the guidance of 'putting aside disputes and jointly exploring'," said Tran in a interview with Xinhua.

"Nothing is unsolvable," Tran said. "As long as we tackle the problem from an overall view, the two countries can push relations to a new height."

In March 2005, three oil companies from China, Vietnam and the Philippines signed a landmark tripartite agreement in Manila to jointly prospect oil and gas resources in the disputed South China Seas, an important step to jointly implement the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea.

The declaration, signed between China and members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations in 2002, is a major political document on resolving disputes in the South China Sea by peaceful means.

Tran highly praised the traditional relations between Vietnam and China on the eve of the 60th Anniversary of Vietnam's National Day, which falls on Sept. 2.

Confident of future cooperation, Tran said the Vietnamese President Tran Duc Luong's China tour in July breathed new vitality into the development of bilateral relations.

"Vietnam and China still enjoy potential for cooperation in iron ore, aluminium ore, thermal power and railway," said Tran.

Cooperation could not only promote Vietnam-China relations but relations between China and ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations), Tran said.

Vietnamese exports to China will enjoy zero tariff next year under the Early Harvest Program signed by China and the ASEAN, which groups Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei, Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia and the Philippines.

"The increasing exports of agricultural products will help boost the agricultural economy of both countries," said Tran.

"China has become the No.1 trading partner of Vietnam," said the ambassador. Besides, the two countries have developed effective cooperation in culture and youth exchanges.

"Many Vietnamese are quite familiar with the Chinese history, they like reading Chinese history novels and watching Chinese TV series," said the Ambassador.

Since the normalization of relations in 1991, Vietnam and China have come to many important agreements, with mutual trust strengthened and high-level visits increased, said Tran.

Tran reiterated Vietnam's firm support of the one-China policy and China's peaceful reunification.

Source: Xinhua