BEIJING - The leaders of China and Vietnam on Friday agreed to maintain frequent communication on maritime issues.

The agreement was made in a joint statement released during Vietnamese President Truong Tan Sang's ongoing China visit.

Both sides agreed to conduct frequent communication and dialogues in order to properly solve maritime issues, proceeding from the overall interest of bilateral ties.

Both sides will implement the bilateral Agreement on Basic Principles Guiding the Settlement of Maritime Issues, make full use of their boundary discussion mechanism and carry out discussions that can result in basic and permanent solutions accepted by both sides.

The two sides should also explore temporary solutions without involving their respective positions and requests, according to the statement.

According to the statement, both sides will advance negotiations between their working groups concerning waters outside the mouth of the Beibu Bay, steadily push forward negotiations on the demarcation of the waters and promote common development in the area.

Both sides also agreed to extend agreements on exploration in agreement area in Beibu Bay signed by companies from both countries.

The two sides agreed to increase the frequency of negotiations in low-sensitive areas and continue cooperation in marine environmental protection, scientific research, rescue work, disaster prevention and relief, as well as interconnection and mutual communication.

The statement calls for both sides to remain calm and avoid taking action that could complicate or escalate a dispute. The two sides also agreed to make good use of the crisis management hotlines of both countries' foreign affairs ministries and take a constructive attitude to properly handle problems, so to safeguard overall interests of Sino-Vietnamese relations and maintain peace and stability in the South China Sea.

The two sides pledged to implement the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC) in order to safeguard peace and stability in the region, according to the statement.