China has agreed to assist Vietnam on cross-border railway development and take steps to expand agricultural imports from its smaller neighbor.

Just a fortnight after a clash at sea, Hanoi says talks between the two underline need for peace in the waters.

China stands ready to promote high-quality and high-level cooperation in various fields with Vietnam and is willing to continue to make bigger the pie of economic and trade cooperation, said Chinese Premier Li Qiang who is on a three-day official visit to Vietnam.