Joint press communique: China, Vietnam to finish demarcation task in 2008

Chinese President Hu Jintao (R) meets with Vietnamese President Nguyen Minh Triet in Beijing, capital of China, on May 17, 2007. (Xinhua Photo/Ma Zhancheng)

BEIJING, May 18 (Xinhua) -- China and Vietnam have agreed to finish tracing the border between the two countries in 2008, said a joint press communique issued by the two countries on Friday.

    The communique said China and Vietnam will cooperate closely to ensure partial demarcation is finished in 2007 and the demarcation of the entire border in 2008.

    The two countries will sign a new border administration system document once demarcation is complete, said the communique.

    China and Vietnam started the task of defining their 1, 300 kilometer of land border in 2002 and so far 13 rounds of government-level negotiations on border issue have been held.

    The communique also said the two countries will implement the agreement on the Beibu Gulf and fishery cooperation in the Gulf, and speed up implementation of the agreement on Beibu Gulf oil and gas cooperation.

    On the South China sea issue, the communique said the two countries agree not to take actions that might complicate the conflict and agree to negotiate peacefully in the interests of a lasting settlement accepted by both sides.

    The communique was issued during Vietnamese President Nguyen Minh Triet's state visit to China from May 15 to 18. During his stay here, Nguyen held talks with his Chinese counterpart Hu Jintao and met with top legislator Wu Bangguo, Premier Wen Jiabao and top political advisor Jia Qinglin.

BEIJING, May 17 (Xinhua) -- China and Vietnam on Thursday vowed to properly handle border issues, and maintain peace and stability in border areas.

    Meeting with Vietnamese President Nguyen Minh Triet, Chinese President Hu Jintao urged the two sides to properly handle the border issues so as to create good conditions for both countries' reform and development.

    Triet said that Vietnam was keen to develop relations between the border provinces, so as to create peace, friendship and common development in the frontier area.

    He pledged to deal with the land demarcation in a timely way and increase bilateral cooperation in the Beibu Bay area.

    As for bilateral relations, Hu said China-Vietnam relations have maintained a good momentum in recent years with frequent high-level visits and fast-growing economic and trade cooperation. The two sides also coordinate in international and regional affairs.

    Hu put forward five proposals to further promote bilateral relations -- bilateral exchanges at various levels, enhanced economic, trade and technological cooperation, more personnel exchanges between the two countries, careful management of border issues, and closer coordination and consultation in international and regional affairs, especially within multilateral frameworks.

    Hu spoke highly of Vietnam's support for the one-China policy and China's reunification.

    Triet agreed with Hu's remarks on bilateral ties, adding the two countries are facing the same development tasks, and share common strategic interests.

    Relations with China are a priority of Vietnam's foreign relations, Triet stressed.

    He said that Vietnam was keen to maintain exchanges with China at all levels, further increase mutual understanding and trust, and deepen cooperation in areas such as trade, technology, agriculture, culture and tourism.

    Triet reiterated that Vietnam would firmly adhere to the one-China policy, support China's reunification and oppose "Taiwan independence separatist activities" in any form.