HANOI - China and Vietnam agreed to launch joint inspection on the waters outside the mouth of the Beibu Gulf in December, said a joint communique released here Friday.

The inspection can be seen as an important threshold for further maritime cooperation between the two countries, according to the document.

The two sides also planned to steadily promote the negotiation of demarcation of the waters outside the mouth of the Beibu Gulf, and actively foster the joint development of these waters.

The joint communique was issued during Chinese President Xi Jinping's two-day state visit to Vietnam.

The Beibu Gulf is an half-closed bay surrounded by Chinese and Vietnamese territories and a traditional fishery place for the two countries.

In 2000, the two countries signed agreements on the demarcation of the Beibu Gulf and fishing cooperation in such area.

On maritime issues, the two sides should seek basic and long-standing solution acceptable to both sides through friendly consultations and negotiations, and actively explore transitional ways, which would not affect each other's stance and viewpoints, including the study and negotiations on joint development, according to the communique.