Vietnam and China continue to closely coordinate in border management and protection.

Recently, 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.

Meeting of the two heads of the Government- level negotiation delegations on Vietnam-China territorial border - Photo: baoquocte.

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 agreed to continue promoting the implementation of the common perceptions of high-ranking leaders, bringing the areas of cooperation between the two countries to increasingly substantive progress; and coordinate to prepare well for the 15th Meeting of the Steering Committee for Bilateral Cooperation and important bilateral activities towards the 15th anniversary of the establishment of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

In a friendly, frank and open atmosphere, the two sides discussed substantive and comprehensive border issues, and assessed the positive developments in the cooperation in land border management between Vietnam and China according to legal documents. The mechanism of the Vietnam-China Joint Land Border Committee operated effectively and smoothly; cooperation in building infrastructure and connecting traffic in the border area was promoted; the two sides closely coordinated to effectively pilot the Ban Gioc Waterfall Scenic Area (Vietnam) - Detian (China), demonstrating their determination to cooperate in order to create a safe and attractive tourist destination for tourists; making an important contribution to maintaining stability and promoting socio-economic development in the border areas of the two countries. 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, promoting exchanges, trade and humanitarian cooperation... in border areas; 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 on 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 and island environment in the Gulf of Tonkin". The two sides agreed to continue promoting negotiations on 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 of fishing activities at sea between Vietnam and China", "Agreement on cooperation in search and rescue between Vietnam and China" and continue to promote maritime cooperation, especially in less sensitive areas.

Minister Bui Thanh Son received Mr. Ton Ve Dong, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Head of the Government-level negotiation delegation on territorial borders on the Chinese side - Photo: baoquocte.

On this occasion, Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son received Mr. Sun Weidong, Deputy Foreign Minister, Head of the Government-level Negotiation Delegation on the Chinese side on the territorial border. Minister Bui Thanh Son highly appreciated Deputy Minister Sun Weidong's visit to Vietnam and co-chaired the meeting with the Head of the Government-level Negotiation Delegation on the territorial border of Vietnam and China; 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 economy, trade, infrastructure construction, railway and road connections, facilitate people-to-people exchanges in border areas; strengthen coordination in land border management, well control disagreements at sea, making practical contributions to the friendly, cooperative and developing Vietnam-China relationship./.

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