Summary of 25 years of signing the Vietnam-China Land Border Treaty

On August 2 in Hanoi, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs coordinated with relevant ministries, sectors and localities to organize a conference to review 25 years of signing the Border Treaty and 15 years of signing three legal documents on the Vietnam-China land border (Protocol on demarcation and marker planting; Agreement on border management regulations; Agreement on border gates and border gate management regulations).

In his opening speech at the Conference, Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son affirmed that the signing of the Border Treaty, the completion of the demarcation and marker planting work and the signing of three legal documents on the border have great historical significance, opening a new page in the relationship between the two countries, marking an important turning point in the history of the construction of the Vietnam-China border, contributing to creating and maintaining a peaceful and stable environment in the region and the world. In addition, the completion of the demarcation and marker planting work on land borders also contributes to promoting socio-economic development, especially between the border provinces of the two countries.

The completion of the settlement of the land border issue between Vietnam and China is an important milestone in the relationship between the two countries that has gone through many ups and downs and is an achievement built by the 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. This historical achievement has laid the legal and political foundation for the two countries to maintain a peaceful and stable environment for economic development, ensuring security, national defense... to meet the aspirations of the people of the two countries.

Since the three legal documents on the Vietnam-China land border came into effect and the two countries officially managed the land border according to the legal documents on the border, in general, the situation on the Vietnam-China land border has been basically stable, the border line and border marker system has been maintained; social order and security in the border area have been ensured; the work of opening and upgrading border gates and connecting traffic has been of interest to both sides; friendly exchanges and cooperation in developing the border area have been promoted.

The Vietnam-China Joint Land Border Committee and functional forces of both sides closely coordinate in border management and protection, promptly detect and properly handle arising border incidents.

The land border between Vietnam and China was formed through historical processes and has existed relatively stably since the 10th century.

During the colonial period, the French Government and the Qing Dynasty of China signed the Conventions of June 26, 1887 and the supplementary convention of June 20, 1895 - these were the first international legal documents defining the border between Vietnam and China.

Immediately after gaining independence, the two sides were interested in resolving border issues and conducted a number of negotiations but without any results. After normalizing relations in 1991, the two countries resumed negotiations on territorial borders. The result was the Vietnam-China Land Border Treaty signed by the Government of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam and the Government of the People's Republic of China on December 30, 1999.

During the period from 2001 to 2008, the two sides carried out the work of demarcation and marker planting in the field. As a result, the two sides demarcated the entire border line of 1,449.566 km, planted 1,971 markers, including 1 marker at the Vietnam - China - Laos border junction, 1,548 main markers and 442 secondary markers. This system of markers has been marked, recorded and described in accordance with the actual terrain, ensuring objectivity, science, clarity, stability and long-term sustainability. On November 18, 2009, the two governments signed 3 legal documents on the Vietnam - China land border to acknowledge all the achievements of demarcation and marker planting in the field, establishing legal regulations for effective and smooth coordination in the management, protection of the border, management and development of border gates between the two countries.

This is an opportunity for delegates to meet and exchange to review the past work process, share valuable lessons and memorable experiences; ministries, branches and localities exchange, summarize and evaluate achievements, results and shortcomings and limitations arising in border management and protection work to draw lessons, find solutions to remove difficulties and obstacles, contributing to maintaining a peaceful, friendly, stable, cooperative and sustainable development border for the people of the two countries.

Source: https://kinhtedothi.vn/tong-ket-25-nam-ky-hiep-uoc-bien-gioi-tren-dat-lien-viet-nam-trung-quoc.html