Cao Bang’s delegation attend the 25th anniversary of the Vietnam-China Land Border Treaty and 15 years since the signing of three legal documents on the Vietnam-China land border between Vietnam and China

2024 marks the 25th anniversary of the Vietnam-China Land Border Treaty and 15 years since the signing of three legal documents on the Vietnam-China land border between Vietnam and China (the protocol on border demarcation and marker planting, the agreement on border management regulations, and the other on border gates and regulations on the management of border gates).

After 15 years of implementing the three legal documents mentioned above, the situation on the Vietnam-China land border has been basically stable; security, social order and safety have been maintained. The peaceful and stable border has actively contributed to promoting cooperation and development.

With the aim of establishing a clear border between the two countries, from 1974 to 1979, Vietnam and China conducted negotiations on border and territorial issues three times, yet failed to achieve results due to differences in their stances and opinions. After normalizing their relations, since October 1992, the two sides had negotiated for the fourth time. In October 1993, they reached the agreement on the basic principles on the settlement of border and territorial issues, and agreed to take the 1887 and 1895 Franco-Qing Conventions and other documents and maps on border demarcation and marker planting as a basis for redefining the Vietnam - China border. For the residential areas on both sides that have been inhabited for a long time, they maintain a stable life for the residents; for the river border sections, they resolve according to the principles of international law and practice.

On December 30, 1999 in Hanoi, the Vietnam-China land border treaty (referred to as the 1999 treaty), after 8 years of persistent negotiations, was signed, laying an important foundation for building a border of peace, friendship and long-term stability between the two countries.

Vietnam and China share a border line running through the seven provinces of Dien Bien, Lai Chau, Lao Cai, Ha Giang, Cao Bang, Lang Son and Quang Ninh of Vietnam, and Yunnan province and the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region of China. 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 (China) in 2009. This is a treaty of historical significance because it is the first time the two countries have a continuous border from West to East with a length of more than 1,400km and 1,970 markers shown in the treaty with the attached map.

Associate Professor, Dr. Nguyen Hong Thao, former Vice Chairman of the National Border Committee under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said the completion of the land border demarcation and marker planting vividly demonstrates the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership between Vietnam and China, positively contributing to peace, stability and development in the region.

Dr. Tran Cong Truc, former head of the Government Border Committee, said that the settlement of the border issue is a historical milestone in the relationship between the two countries and an achievement built by the political determination, intelligence, blood and tears of many generations of Vietnamese and Chinese people, especially in the new era under the leadership of the two Communist Parties. He said the Treaty is the legal and political foundation for cooperation and development. Currently, along the entire Vietnam-China border, the two sides have opened 7 pairs of international border gates, 8 pairs of main border gates, 7 pairs of specialized customs clearance routes for transporting goods, 11 border gate economic zones and a number of border crossings. He stressed that the Treaty is a valuable contribution to international practice, and an inseparable part of the Public International Law, to resolve national border and territorial disputes. Vietnam and China have resolved border and territorial issues through peaceful negotiations and in accordance with the principles of international law, and international treaties or practices, for the legitimate rights and interests of each side, to jointly handle disagreements and disputes in line with the reached legal principles. This is the basis for the forces, border management and protection agencies of the two sides to join hands to build a border of peace, friendship, cooperation, development and long-term stability.