HANOI, Oct. 15 (Xinhua) -- China and Vietnam have pushed the development of bilateral relations into a new phase with an agreement to further deepen their partnership simultaneously along the three tracks of maritime, onshore and financial cooperation.

Reached during the Sunday talks between visiting Chinese Premier Li Keqiang and his Vietnamese counterpart, Nguyen Tan Dung, the consensus was included in a joint statement released shortly before Li wrapped up his stay Tuesday, and has gained support from other Vietnamese leaders.

During the talks between Li and Dung, the two sides committed themselves to setting up in parallel three joint work groups respectively in charge of the three tracks and setting them in motion within the year.

The three-track approach is an important breakthrough for the future development of bilateral ties, Li said, stressing that the establishment of a work group for maritime cooperation consultations is a positive signal of the two countries' readiness to solve their disputes through cooperation.

The creation of the maritime work group is aimed at advancing China-Vietnam joint development at sea, Li said, calling for substantial progress in relevant programs in waters out of the mouth of the Beibu Bay, a semi-enclosed sea whose delimitation remains under negotiation between the two countries, and accumulate experience for broader maritime cooperation.

As regards onshore cooperation, the two sides need to improve strategic planning with the establishment of a work group on infrastructure cooperation, and promote practical cooperation in such areas as interconnectivity and trade and investment, added the premier.

On the financial front, Li said, the joint work group on financial cooperation should lead the two sides to the signing of a bilateral currency swap deal and a local currency settlement agreement, so as to help safeguard the economic development and financial stability of both countries and the region at large.

In addition, China is ready to work with Vietnam to consolidate the public support for bilateral relations through more people-to-people exchanges and closer cultural and educational cooperation, he added.

For his part, Dung said his country is ready to work with China to further enhance high-level contact, deepen political mutual trust and advance maritime, onshore and financial cooperation so as to achieve positive results at an early date.