Lao Cai (VNA) – A Government-level negotiation on territorial andborder issues between Vietnam and China took place in the northern mountainousprovince of Lao Cai on January 14.

The event was co-chaired by Deputy Foreign Minister Le Hoai Trung, who isGeneral Secretary of the Steering Committee for Vietnam-China Cooperation, andChina’s Deputy Foreign Minister Kong Xuanyou, who is General Secretary of theSteering Committee for China-Vietnam Cooperation.

Both sides exchanged views on territory and border-related issues as well asthe two countries’ relations over the past times comprehensively, whilediscussing cooperation orientations to speed up the resolution of existingissues and boost the ties in 2019, thus contributing to enhancing theVietnam-China comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership.

The sides stressed the importance of territorial and border issues and relatedoutcomes they have achieved within the framework of their governmental-levelnegotiations, which aims to implement agreements secured between theirhigh-ranking leaders and promptly handle arising problems based oninternational law.

They expressed their delights at positive results in the management of Vietnam-Chinaborder on land following three legal documents on border, ensuring borderstability, security, and social safety and boosting cooperation for bordersocio-economic development.

They agreed to coordinate in the opening and upgrade of border gates and theapplication of customs facilitation measures in a bid to develop their borderareas.

They also agreed on effective implementation of an agreement on cooperation inprotecting and exploiting tourism resources within the Ban Gioc Waterfallvicinity between Vietnam and China.

On the maritime matter, the two sides affirmed to abide by important commonperceptions reached between senior leaders of the two Parties and countries andthe “Agreement on basic principles guiding the settlement of Vietnam-China sea-related issues.”

They agreed to promote the settlement of sea issues in line with internationallaw, including the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea 1982, control well differences,satisfactorily deal with issues at sea, not make the situation complicated,while promoting suitable cooperation and jointly maintaining peace andstability at sea.

The Vietnamese side expressed concern over several recent complicatedhappenings in the East Sea as they did not favour peace, stability andcooperation in the region.

The event positively assessed the results of implementing some projects such asstudying and comparing Holocene sediments of the Red River Delta and theYangtze River Delta; releasing fry and protecting aquatic resources in the Gulfof Tonkin.

Participants agreed to increase exchanges to sign an agreement on cooperationin search and rescue at sea soon, and restore the hotline for offshore fishingemergencies.

The two sides agreed to continue to firmly speed up the negotiation process onborder delineation and win-win cooperation of working groups on issues at sea.Accordingly, the two sides agreed to optimize the Governmental-level negotiationmechanism through annual meetings, increase the number of meetings between theheads of negotiation teams and strengthen negotiation mechanisms of working groupson sea-related issues.

At the same time, the two sides concurred to continue working with ASEANcountries to comprehensively and effectively realize the Declaration on theConduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC) and soon finalise the Code of Conductin the East Sea in a practical and efficient manner, contributing tomaintaining peace and stability in the sea.

During the event, theDeputy Foreign Ministers held a meeting reviewing the two countries’ ties in2018, and discussing the focus of exchange and cooperation in 2019 and issuesin bilateral relations.

They agreed that the bilateral relations continued growing positively in 2018and the two sides maintained regular visits and high-level contacts. Exchangesand cooperation among localities and sectors at all levels have been carriedout strongly and people-to-people exchanges were increasingly hectic.

The two sides agreed to soundly implement high-level perceptions and agreement;maintain visits and contacts between Party and State leaders; carry outproductively exchange and cooperative mechanisms to make it easier forVietnamese farm produce to enter the Chinese market; and step up cooperativefields with substantial progress in 2019.

They asserted to continue assisting and encouraging localities to boost exchangesand win-win cooperation and well organize friendship activities to contributeto enhancing friendship, mutual trust and understanding between people.

On the occasion, Secretary of the Lao Cai Party Committee Nguyen Van Vinh receivedthe delegations, seeking to increase cooperation between Lao Cai and Yunnan inparticular and border localities of the two countries in general.-VNA