China, Vietnam hold 12th government-level border negotiations

The 12th round of border negotiations between the governments of China and Vietnam was held in Hanoi from Thursday to Saturday.

Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Wu Dawei and his Vietnamese counterpart Vu Dung attended the negotiations. The two sides reviewed the progress made in previous negotiations, and made further arrangement for the next phase of work.

They agreed to speed up the process on the demarcation and erection of border markers along their land boundaries. They also agreed to ensure that they can finish the process before 2008 and sign new document on the system of border management, continue to promote bilateral cooperation to fulfill the Beibu Gulf fishery cooperation agreement, jointly maintain the natural order of Beibu Gulf fishery production, and start Sino-Vietnamese naval joint patrol as soon as possible.

They agreed to build up a Sino-Vietnamese joint work-group on the maritime space outside Beibu Gulf entrance to negotiate the demarcation on the space and the issues on joint exploitation through consultations. Besides, the two sides will carefully investigate joint exploitation of the South China Sea and will promote the cooperation on small-extent sensitive items on sea.

Wu Dawei also met with Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung on Saturday.

Source: Xinhua