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,

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.

China has agreed to assist Vietnam in developing cross-border railways and has pledged to import more agricultural products from Vietnam. The discussions, held during Premier Li Qiang's visit, highlighted the importance of bilateral ties amid ongoing South China Sea disputes.