Vietnam signals good will

Other Views

Focus on joint development

While sending a special envoy, Vietnam has neither strengthened nor altered its standpoint in its dispute with China; so it is predictable that Vietnam will not make big concessions but might adopt new strategies on the issue.

On the other hand, China should be clear that the situation in the South China Sea is under control so it is not necessary to show strength. All it needs is to better implement the principle of "setting aside disputes and pursuing joint development", which is in accordance with the interests of all sides involved.

Xu Liping, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, cnr.com, Aug 26

The dispute between China and Vietnam is far more than a matter of the two nations only and might concern even the whole Asia-Pacific region. China needs to prevent its dispute with Vietnam from negatively affecting its regional strategy. One possible choice for China is to influence Vietnam's attitude toward it through multiple channels. Opinions differ on the issue inside Vietnam, and China needs to let more Vietnamese politicians know it is better to cooperate with China than to oppose it.

Global Times (Chinese edition), Aug 27

As its dispute with China continues, Vietnam obviously hopes to curb its negative effect upon bilateral economic cooperation, and avoid China diminishing investment in Vietnam - that's why it has sent a special envoy. However, neither China nor Vietnam will make major concessions on the root cause of tensions in mutual relations, namely their territorial dispute. Therefore the visit of the special envoy is rather a gesture.

finance.ifeng.com, Aug 27

The relationship between China and Vietnam experienced a downturn in recent months with their confrontation over China's drilling platform near the Xisha Islands. However, Vietnam is not an enemy of China and its political forces that advocate maintaining good relations with China are quite influential. China should separate politics from the territorial dispute, and take the opportunity to encourage these politicians to gain more influence so they can improve the bilateral relationship.

Zhao Qiguang, professor at Carleton College, USA, ifeng TV, Aug 26