China, Vietnam pledge to enhance ties amid row in South China Sea

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.