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.

The two communist-ruled neighbours also agreed to boost economic ties, with China pledging to further open its market for Vietnamese farm produce while Vietnam would facilitate Chinese investment, the government added in a statement.