At the session (Source: VNA)

Vietnamese and Chinese Governmental negotiating delegates on border and territory gathered at a plenary session in Hanoi on December 5-7.

On maritime issues, both sides came to terms on seriously carrying out common perceptions reached by leaders of the two countries and the Vietnam-China agreement on basic principles guiding the settlement of sea-related issues, properly settling maritime issues for peace and stability at sea.

The two sides officially set up a Working Group to discuss cooperation for mutual development at sea in the framework of governmental negotiations on Vietnam-China border and territory and agreed on the group’s operation mechanism. They agreed that the group will convene the first meeting early next year to devise the specific content and guiding principles for discussions on cooperation for mutual development at sea.

The officials consented to stepping up negotiations on areas beyond the mouth of the Gulf of Tonkin with a view to early achieving substantial outcomes, and saw eye to eye on joint survey sites in areas of overlapping claims in waters beyond the mouth of the Gulf of Tonkin .

The two sides reached a consensus on deploying two cooperation deals on less-sensitive issues signed during Chinese Prime Minister Li Keqiang’s recent visit to Vietnam while exerting efforts to seek other agreements on maritime environment protection, marine science research, search and rescue at sea, and disaster prevention.

Referring to land border issue, they highly valued what was reached at the meeting of the Vietnam-China Land Border Joint Committee in Hanoi on December 4-5. The two sides agreed to accelerate the negotiations on an agreement on free navigation at the mouth of the Bac Luan river and another on exploiting and protecting tourism resources at Ban Gioc waterfalls with the aim to sign them next year.

They will also push forward the construction of a cross-border economic cooperation area on the basis of ensuring sovereignty over border and territory in line with each country’s law, as well as the building and upgrade of several border gates and the linkage of traffic routes at border gates, making it easier for travelling.

Other issues in bilateral relations were also tabled for discussion, with attention given to measures aimed at further deepening the Vietnam – China comprehensive strategic partnership in the coming time.

The same day, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh received head of the Chinese negotiating delegation Deputy Foreign Minister Liu Zhenmin.

VNA