Vietnam - China have substantive discussions on territorial borders

Vietnam and China had a substantive and comprehensive exchange on border and territorial issues, assessing positive developments in cooperation in managing the Vietnam-China land border in accordance with legal documents.

Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son received Chinese Deputy Foreign Minister Sun Weidong. Photo: BNG

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that on November 9, 2023, in Hanoi, Permanent Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Nguyen Minh Vu and Chinese Deputy Foreign Minister Sun Weidong held a meeting between the two heads of the Government-level negotiation delegations on Vietnam-China territorial borders, in-depth discussions on bilateral relations, territorial border issues between the two countries as well as international and regional issues of mutual concern.

At the meeting, the two sides expressed their delight at the positive development of the Vietnam-China comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership in recent times, especially since the historic visit to China by General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong (October 2022).

The two sides had a substantive and comprehensive exchange of border and territorial issues, assessing positive developments in Vietnam-China land border management cooperation according to legal documents.

The mechanism of the Vietnam-China Land Border Joint Committee operates effectively and smoothly; cooperation in infrastructure construction and traffic connection in border areas is promoted; the two sides closely coordinate to effectively pilot the Ban Gioc Waterfall Scenic Area (Vietnam) - Detian (China), demonstrating the determination to coordinate to create safe and attractive tourist destinations for tourists; making an important contribution to maintaining stability and promoting socio-economic development in the border areas of the two countries.

Scene of the meeting between the two heads of the Government-level negotiation delegations on the Vietnam-China territorial border. Photo: BNG

The two sides agreed to continue to closely coordinate in border management and protection according to the three legal documents on the Vietnam-China land border and related agreements; cooperate well in opening/upgrading/recognizing border gates, implementing measures to facilitate customs clearance of goods, promote trade and humanitarian exchanges and cooperation in the border area; and make joint efforts to build a peaceful, friendly, stable, cooperative and developing Vietnam-China land border.

Regarding maritime issues, the two sides frankly discussed some recent developments in the East Sea; affirmed the importance of continuing to seriously implement the common perception of the high-ranking leaders of the two Parties and two countries and the Agreement on Basic Principles Guiding the Settlement of Maritime Issues between Vietnam and China in 2011, together maintaining peace, stability, self-restraint, and avoiding measures that complicate the situation at sea. The Vietnamese side requested that the two sides truly respect each other's legitimate rights and interests, together control disagreements well, maintain smooth negotiation channels on maritime issues, and make efforts to seek a fundamental and long-term solution on the basis of international law and the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

The two sides positively evaluated the results of implementing projects within the framework of cooperation in less sensitive areas such as "Implementing cooperation in releasing fish fry and protecting aquatic resources in the Gulf of Tonkin" and the signing of two cooperation documents including "Research cooperation in the field of geological environment and marine geological disasters in the Red River Delta and the Yangtze River Delta" and "Cooperation in research on integrated management of marine environment and islands in the Gulf of Tonkin".

The two sides agreed to continue promoting negotiations on the delimitation of the sea area outside the mouth of the Gulf of Tonkin and cooperation for joint development at sea to achieve substantial progress; promptly complete procedures and move towards signing the “Agreement on establishing a hotline for unexpected incidents in fishing activities at sea between Vietnam and China”, “Agreement on cooperation in search and rescue between Vietnam and China” and continue promoting maritime cooperation, especially in less sensitive areas.

On this occasion, Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son received Mr. Ton Ve Dong, Deputy Foreign Minister, Head of the Government-level negotiation delegation on territorial borders on the Chinese side.

Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son (right) receives Chinese Deputy Foreign Minister Sun Weidong. Photo: BNG

Minister Bui Thanh Son highly appreciated the visit to Vietnam and co-chairing of the meeting between Deputy Minister Ton Ve Dong and the Head of the Governmental Negotiation Delegation on Vietnam-China territorial border; requested the Foreign Ministries of the two countries to continue to promote their active coordinating role in maintaining the good development momentum of the bilateral relationship; closely coordinate and prepare well for exchange activities between the two countries in the coming time; actively promote the application of creative measures, enhance substantive cooperation in all fields, especially economics, trade, infrastructure construction, railway and road connections, facilitate people-to-people exchanges in border areas; strengthen coordination in land border management, control disagreements at sea, and make practical contributions to the friendly, cooperative and developing Vietnam-China relationship .

Laodong.vn