China agreed Sunday to assist Vietnam on cross-border railway development and take steps to expand agricultural imports from its smaller neighbor, Vietnam’s official media said. Premier Li Qiang, on an official visit to Vietnam,

China stands ready to strengthen alignment of development strategies with Vietnam, carrying out the plan of synergizing the Belt and Road Initiative with Vietnam's Two Corridors and One Economic Circle strategy, said Chinese Premier Li Qiang in Hanoi on Sunday.

Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and Chinese Premier Li Qiang held “frank” talks about controlling disagreements in the contested waters of the South China Sea during Li’s visit to Hanoi.