Peaceful and stable Vietnam-China land border is something to be proud of

This year marks the 25th anniversary of the signing of the Land Border Treaty between Vietnam and China. The Chinese Ambassador expressed that a peaceful and stable border area with vibrant economic and travel exchanges is something to be proud of.
This year marks the 25th anniversary of Vietnam and China signing the Vietnam-China Land Border Treaty and the 15th anniversary of signing three legal documents on the Vietnam-China land border (Protocol on Border Demarcation and Marker Planting; Agreement on Border Management Regulations; Agreement on Border Gates and Border Gate Management Regulations).

After 15 years of implementing three legal documents, the situation on the Vietnam-China land border has been basically stable; security, social order and safety have been maintained. The peaceful and stable border has actively contributed to promoting cooperation and development.

Vietnamese and Chinese forces conduct joint patrols to protect border security. Photo: VNA

Dr. Tran Cong Truc, former Head of the Government Border Committee, affirmed that the treaty has historical significance. This is the first time the two countries have a continuous border from west to east, more than 1,400km long with 1,970 landmarks, shown in the treaty with the accompanying map.

To achieve such results, the two sides have gone through over 30 years of negotiations, overcoming many difficult obstacles, but with political determination and sincere cooperation, they have resolved the border issue.

According to Dr. Tran Cong Truc, resolving the border issue is a historical milestone in the relationship between the two countries and an achievement built with political determination, intelligence, blood and tears of many generations of Vietnamese and Chinese people, especially in the new era under the leadership of the two Communist Parties.

Dr. Tran Cong Truc

Regarding the second meaning, Dr. Tran Cong Truc said that the Treaty also creates a legal and political foundation for cooperation and development. Currently, along the entire Vietnam-China border, the two sides have opened 7 international border gates, 8 main border gates, 7 specialized customs clearance routes for transporting goods, 11 border gate economic zones and a number of openings.

The third meaning is that it has made an important contribution to the treasury of international public law on resolving border and territorial disputes between countries.

Dr. Tran Cong Truc shared that land border disputes between countries are a common type of international dispute that is often prioritized for resolution after diplomatic relations have been established.

Vietnam and China have resolved border and territorial issues through peaceful negotiations, in accordance with the principles of international law, on the basis of international treaties or international practices.

Chinese tourists are welcomed at Mong Cai international border gate, Quang Ninh province, March 15, 2023. Photo: VNA

After the treaty, agreements were signed on coordinating patrols, protection, and management of border markers and borders; crossing border gates, using water and resources on border rivers and streams, and cooperating in exploiting the landscape of border areas. This is the basis for the forces, management and protection agencies of the relevant parties to cooperate to build a border of peace, friendship, cooperation, development, and long-term stability.

Vietnam-China land border is stable, economic exchange is vibrant

Chinese Ambassador to Vietnam Hung Ba commented that the signing of the China-Vietnam Land Border Treaty demonstrated the will and determination of both sides to strive for peace, friendship and cooperation.

This event became a successful model in which the two sides, through friendly negotiations, strongly enhanced their confidence in dialogue and properly resolved disagreements on border and other maritime issues.

Over the past time, the two sides have implemented the Treaty well, and the people living along the border of the two countries have settled down, lived together in harmony, and bonded like brothers and sisters. The Ambassador affirmed that the China-Vietnam border area has become the most peaceful, stable, and harmonious border area with the most bustling trade and travel in the world.

“I still remember very clearly, last August, the late General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong visited the Huu Nghi border gate (Lang Son). At that time, the late General Secretary emphasized that in the world, there is only one border area here named “Huu Nghi”, it is the only one in the world… A peaceful border area, very much worth our pride”, Ambassador Hung Ba recalled.

General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and Ambassador Hung Ba visited Huu Nghi international border gate in August 2023. Photo: VNA

China's border areas have many similarities with Vietnam's border areas, as they are both far from socio-economic centers, have rugged mountains and are inhabited by ethnic groups. Therefore, the Ambassador believes that the two countries have many experiences that can be shared with each other.

Speaking of China's experience, according to Ambassador Hung Ba, Guangxi and Yunnan provinces attach great importance to tourism development, environmental protection, ecological agriculture, and maximizing the advantages of opening up border areas. China's border areas also focus on poverty reduction and rural revitalization.

Infrastructure development including expressways and high-speed railways has been invested in. Yunnan Province now has more than 11,000 km of expressways. High-speed railways from Guangxi and Yunnan have been connected to the border areas. This helps turn the inland border areas into gateways, turning the disadvantages of remote areas into advantages in trade.

According to the Ambassador, the two countries can promote cooperation, connecting border areas, roads, sea routes, and air routes. In particular, the Ambassador emphasized the three railway routes connecting Vietnam and China including Lao Cai - Hanoi - Hai Phong, Lang Son - Hanoi and Mong Cai - Hai Phong.

Vietnamnet.vn

Source: https://vietnamnet.vn/bien-gioi-tren-dat-lien-viet-trung-hoa-binh-on-dinh-la-dieu-dang-tu-hao-2312562.html