The accords, signed by Deputy Foreign Minister Ho Xuan Son of Vietnam and his Chinese counterpart, Wu Dawei, in the presence of Chinese Foreign MinisterYang Jiechi, consist of a protocol on border demarcation and marker planting, an agreement on border management regulations and an agreement on border gates and their management.

 

The signing took place following Governmental-level negotiations between the two deputy foreign ministers, who hailed the event as being of significant importance, ending 35 years of negotiations and officially translating the agreement on Vietnam-China land borders signed in 1999 into reality.

 

They pledged to speed up finalising relevant procedures in an effort to bring the above-mentioned documents into force as soon as possible. They also pledged to work together to deploy these documents effectively so as to turn their common land borderline into the one of peace, friendship and stability, contributing to facilitating friendly exchanges and cooperation between the two countries, especially at the border areas.

 

They also agreed to soon launch negotiations on an agreement for jointly tapping and developing tourism at Ban Gioc waterfall and an agreement on the free movement of ships at the Bac Luan river-mouth, with a view to signing them by 2010.

 

In regard to sea issues, the two sides showed keen determination to seriously implement relevant high-level commitments, especially the ones made by Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung and his Chinese counterpart, Wen Jiabao, in Sichuan, China, in October.

 

They also pledged to strictly follow the Declaration of Conduct of Parties (DOC) in the East Sea between the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and China. They concurred that negotiations had consistently been conducted in a friendly way, in search of basic long-term solutions to the East Sea issue while making joint efforts to maintain stability at sea and find reasonable approaches to emergent problems, including fisheries, in line with the friendly relations between the two countries.

 

The two sides agreed to hold an expert-level negotiation on basic rules guiding the settlement of sea issues between the two countries in Hanoi soon.

 

Later in the day, Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi of China received the Vietnamese delegation led by Deputy Foreign Minister Ho Xuan Son. The top Chinese diplomat emphasised that the Party and Government of China respect its relations with Vietnam and wishes to reach a reasonable solution to maritime issues.

 

During his stay in Beijing, Son met with the Chinese Assistant Foreign Minister, Hu Zhengyue, on measures to boost bilateral ties.

 

Host and guest reached a consensus on close cooperation in holding activities related to the Year of Vietnam-China Friendship in 2010, including celebrations of the 60th anniversary of the establishment of Vietnam-China diplomatic relations on January 18, 2010.

 

In regard to the signing of the three major accords, Deputy Foreign Minister Son said in an interview with Vietnam News Agency that the event has fulfilled an historic mission, laying a foundation for the two countries to build a peaceful, friendly and ever stable borderline.

 

“The three documents will come into force soon after the two countries ratify them along with the materialisation of the agreement on land borders signed in 1999. The event is of primary importance in the history of Vietnam-China relations, paving the way for border localities to broaden economic ties and facilitate friendly exchanges. The three documents will also enable relevant agencies of the two countries to manage borders in an effective and scientific way,” said the diplomat.

 

“The three freshly-signed accords along with the agreement on land borders signed in 1999 make up the most perfect code of dossiers on the Vietnam-China land borderline”.

 

“The dossiers lay a legal basis to turn the land borderline between Vietnam and China into one of peace, friendship and long-lasting stability, thus creating favourable conditions for the two countries to effectively manage their common borderline and border markers”, he concluded./.