Eric Watkins
Special Correspondent
LOS ANGELES, July 5 -- Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao and his Vietnamese counterpart, Phan Van Khai, agreed on July 4 that their countries, together with the Philippines, should jointly explore several disputed areas of the South China Sea.
During a meeting with Phan during the second summit of the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) Economic Cooperation in Kunming, capital of China's Yunnan province, Wen said he hoped oil companies from the three countries would start exploration of the areas as soon as possible.
Phan agreed that Vietnam would work with China and the Philippines to promote the joint exploration.
China and Vietnam have repeatedly sparred over claims to the Spratly Islands in the South China Sea, which are also claimed in whole or in part by the Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei, and Taiwan.
China has protested Vietnam's allowing tours to the Spratlys and inviting international oil companies to bid for exploration and production rights in parts of the South China Sea under dispute.
Besides the Spratlys, Vietnam also has often claimed sovereignty over another area of the South China Sea, the Paracel Islands, which China seized control of in 1974.
In March 1988, Vietnamese and Chinese naval forces clashed over the Paracels, resulting in the sinking of two Vietnamese ships and the loss of more than 70 lives.
