Vietnam and China held substantive and comprehensive discussions on border and territorial issues, assessing the positive progress in cooperation on land border management between Vietnam and China in accordance with legal documents.
Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son receives Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Sun Weidong. Photo: Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that on November 9, 2023, in Hanoi , Permanent Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Nguyen Minh Vu and Chinese Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Sun Weidong held a meeting between the two heads of government- level negotiating delegations on the Vietnam-China border and territory, engaging in in-depth discussions on bilateral relations, border and territorial issues between the two countries, as well as international and regional issues of mutual concern.
At the meeting, both sides expressed pleasure at the positive development of the comprehensive strategic partnership between Vietnam and China 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 on territorial border issues, assessing the positive progress in cooperation on land border management between Vietnam and China in accordance with legal documents.
The Vietnam-China Joint Border Committee mechanism operates effectively and smoothly; cooperation in infrastructure development and transportation connectivity in the border area has been strengthened; the two sides have closely coordinated to effectively implement the pilot project of the Ban Gioc Waterfall (Vietnam) - Duc Thien (China) scenic area, demonstrating their determination to cooperate in creating a safe and attractive tourist destination; making an important contribution to maintaining stability and promoting socio-economic development in the border area of the two countries.
A view of the meeting between the two heads of government-level negotiating delegations on the Vietnam-China border and territorial issues. Photo: Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Both sides agreed to continue to coordinate closely in border management and protection in accordance with the three legal documents on the Vietnam-China land border and related agreements; to cooperate effectively in opening/upgrading/recognizing border gates, implementing measures to facilitate customs clearance of goods, promoting trade and cultural exchanges and cooperation in the border area; and to work together to build a peaceful, friendly, stable, cooperative, and developing land border between Vietnam and China.
Regarding maritime issues, the two sides frankly exchanged views on some recent developments in the South China Sea; affirming the importance of continuing to seriously implement the common understanding of the high-level leaders of the two Parties and two countries and the Agreement on the Basic Principles Guiding the Resolution of the Vietnam-China Maritime Issue in 2011, jointly maintaining peace, stability, restraint, and avoiding measures that complicate the situation at sea. The Vietnamese side proposed that both sides genuinely respect each other's legitimate rights and interests, jointly manage disagreements effectively, maintain smooth negotiation channels on maritime issues, and strive to find a fundamental and long-term solution based on international law and the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.
Both sides positively assessed 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 "Cooperative research in the field of geological environment and marine geological hazards in the Red River Delta and Yangtze River Delta" and "Cooperation in research on integrated management of the marine and island environment in the Gulf of Tonkin".
Both sides agreed to continue promoting negotiations on the delimitation of maritime areas outside the Gulf of Tonkin and cooperation for joint development at sea to achieve substantive progress; to promptly complete procedures and proceed with the signing of the "Agreement on establishing a hotline for sudden incidents arising from fishing activities at sea between Vietnam and China", the "Agreement on cooperation in search and rescue between Vietnam and China", and to continue promoting cooperation on maritime issues, especially in less sensitive areas.
On this occasion, Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son received Mr. Ton Weidong, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs and Head of the Chinese Government-level negotiating delegation on border and territorial issues.
Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son (right) receives Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Sun Weidong. Photo: Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Minister Bui Thanh Son highly appreciated the visit to Vietnam and co-chairing the meeting with the Head of the Government-level negotiating delegation on the Vietnam-China border and territory, Vice Minister Sun Weidong; he requested the Ministries of Foreign Affairs of the two countries to continue to play an active coordinating role in maintaining the positive development momentum of bilateral relations; to closely coordinate and prepare well for future exchange activities between the two countries; to actively promote the application of innovative measures and strengthen substantive cooperation in various fields, especially economics, trade, infrastructure construction, railway and road connectivity, facilitating people-to-people exchanges in border areas; and to strengthen coordination in land border management, effectively control disagreements at sea, and make practical contributions to the friendly, cooperative, and developing Vietnam-China relationship .
Laodong.vn
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