A high-ranking military delegation of Vietnam is taking part in the 9th Beijing Xiangshan Forum that opened in Beijing on October 21.

 VietNamNet Bridge – This year Vietnam’s external relations activities will focus on promoting cooperation in multilateral mechanisms and deepening comprehensive and strategic partnerships with key partners.

 VietNamNet Bridge – The visit to China last week of Defense Minister Phung Quang Thanh shows that the two neighboring countries are trying to mend relations after the oil rig incident, observed international newswires.

Economists have described three possible scenarios for Vietnam-China economic relations in the context of the East Sea situation, with the most likely scenario one of “struggling and cooperating at the same time”.

"After the oil rig event, the relations between Vietnam and China have inevitably turned to a new phase that is totally different from the previous 23-year period since the two countries normalized relations."

The escalating tension in the East Sea and the recent debate of educators about adding the 1979 border war between Vietnam and China in textbooks makes the relationship between Vietnam and China a hot topic.