BEIJING - Chinese Premier Li Keqiang met with visiting Vietnamese President Truong Tan Sang on Thursday, calling for dialogue to expand consensus and manage differences between the two countries.

As neighbors and partners, China and Vietnam are important to each other and the two countries are mutually complementary economically with immense room for practical cooperation, Li said. He added that the two sides should enhance political trust in each other and boost cooperation in trade, infrastructure and other key areas.

The premier said it is of vital significance for bilateral ties as well as regional peace and stability to properly handle the South China Sea issue.

"China and Vietnam can absolutely put both common views and different views on the table to seek the biggest consensus through dialogues and consultations," Li said.

The two sides should manage and address their disputes appropriately and refrain from unilaterally escalating or internationalizing the issues related to the South China Sea, which can affect cooperation between China and Vietnam, Li said.

"When there are fewer disputes, there will be more positive factors and more common interests," said the premier.

China is willing to make joint efforts with Vietnam to push ahead with joint development of the sea and create conditions for an appropriate resolution to the South China Sea issue.

For his part, Sang thanked the Chinese people for their help and support for Vietnam, noting that the relationship with China is a top priority in Vietnam's foreign policy.

The Vietnamese side is willing to cement political trust with China and boost economic cooperation in the spirit of win-win reciprocity between the two countries, said the president.

Vietnam and China should manage and resolve sea-related issues through friendly consultations, advance cooperation in the sea step by step, and reduce their differences and increase interests with a view to common prosperity.