Viet Nam, China mark 15th anniversary of land border treaty

Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi attended the event.

Addressing the event, Bui said that the signing of the treaty and the three legal documents marked a historic milestone, opening a new chapter in the bilateral relations and contributing significantly to upholding the principles of international law.

Thanks to the implementation of the three legal documents, the border situation has remained basically stable, with the borderline and boundary markers well maintained. Social order in border areas has been ensured, while the opening and upgrade of border gates and traffic connectivity, and the implementation of initiatives to promote development cooperation in border areas have received due attention from both sides.

He hoped that the two countries' border management forces would continue to work closely, especially in enhancing infrastructure and transport links across the border, particularly the railway connectivity, to convert the land border into a bridge linking China with ASEAN countries.

Meanwhile, Wang said that 2025 marks the 75th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic ties and the Year of China-Viet Nam Humanistic Exchange, thus both nations need to thoroughly materialize important common perceptions regarding the "six major" directions that leaders of both Parties have agreed upon, and work to step up the building of a China-Viet Nam community with a shared future in an intensive and substantive manner.

He called upon the two countries work to build a clear and stable borderline for mutual prosperity, and suggested both sides continue to settle issues at sea through bilateral dialogues and negotiations for mutually acceptable solutions.

As part of the ceremony, the pair visited an exhibition showcasing 40 photos that highlight major milestones over the past 25 years since the two countries signed the Viet Nam-China Land Border Treaty.

Important foundation for border of peace

Earlier, on December 30, 1999 in Ha Noi, the Viet Nam-China land border treaty (the 1999 treaty) was signed, laying an important foundation for building a border of peace, friendship and long-term stability between the two countries.

Since 2010, there have been eight border defense friendship exchanges, and three friendship border exchanges. At the local level, 67 pairs of border residential areas have set up twinning relationships, while local cooperation mechanisms have been organized periodically and flexibly.

After completing border demarcation and marker planting, in order to cooperate in protecting and managing the border, representatives of the two governments signed the three legal documents in Beijing in 2009.

The three legal documents include the Protocol on border demarcation and marker planting, the Agreement on border management regulations, and the Agreement on border gates and regulations on the management of border gates.

On July 14, 2010, the three documents began to take effect, and the two countries have officially managed the land border in line with them since then./.