HANOI, March 7 (Xinhua) -- China and Vietnam will this year make joint efforts to enable a continuous and stable development of bilateral relations, Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Liu Zhenmin and his Vietnamese counterpart Le Hoai Trung agreed here lately.

The agreement was made during diplomatic consultation held during Liu's visit to the Southeast Asian country on March 6-7.

During the consultation, the two senior diplomats agreed that their two countries will continue coordination, keep up exchanges at various levels, expand investment in the economic and trade fields, and boost maritime cooperation to safeguard stability in the South China Sea, among others, so as to promote the China-Vietnam comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership to a new level.

The two vice foreign ministers also reviewed the progress made last year in the development of bilateral ties, citing deepening of exchanges and cooperation in various fields. While China has been for years Vietnam's largest trading partner, Vietnam's trade volume with China has emerged as one of the largest for all members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

The promotion of bilateral relations of good neighborliness and friendly cooperation has brought tangible benefits to the two countries and the two peoples, contributing to regional peace, stability and prosperity, they noted.

The two vice foreign ministers also discussed China-ASEAN relations and other issues of common concern, agreeing to strengthen coordination within the China-ASEAN framework in efforts towards a comprehensive and in-depth development of the China-ASEAN strategic partnership.