by Vu Kim Chung
27-12-2000
Vietnam and China have signed an agreement on their sea border in the Tonkin Gulf, at the start of a four-day visit to China by Vietnamese President Tran Duc Luong. Negotiations on the Tonkin Gulf sea border have been going since the 1970s, but were interrupted by the war between China and Vietnam in 1979. But now after 18 rounds of talks, the two sides settled their differences.
Both countries said the negotiations were tough. Difficult issues included the status of an island which is home to a small Vietnamese fishing community. The formula used to establish the demarcation line remained secret, but it is believed the sea border would not follow a straight line.
Fishing rights
The two countries also signed an agreement on fishing rights, establishing at least for a limited period a common fishing zone. These agreements follow the successful conclusion in 1999 of talks on China and Vietnam's disputed land border. There were still issues between the two countries that remained to be resolved, not least the complex question of the Spratley and Paracel island groups.
Nevertheless, both China and Vietnam insisted that they were managing to break away from their traditionally poor relationship. Western diplomats said the Tonkin Gulf agreement was a significant achievement, especially for Vietnam, which currently has to devote considerable resources to maintaining vigilance on its sea and land borders with China.
Vietnam and China also signed a joint statement for comprehensive co-operation in the new century in Beijing on December 25. Signatories were Foreign Minister Nguyen Dy Nien for Vietnam and Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan for the China. The joint statement, signed during the five-day visit to China by Vietnam's President Tran Duc Luong, said:
The signatories reaffirm that they will follow the five principles for peaceful co-existence based on the United Nations Charter and the principles for international relations which have been mutually recognised, to boost comprehensive bilateral development.
The Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) and the Communist Party of China, CPC, would continue to develop their friendship and co-operation based on the principles of independence, sovereignty, equality, mutual respect and non-interference in each other's internal affairs.
To effectively realise the guiding motto "Neighbourly friendship, comprehensive co-operation, long-term stability and future-oriented thinking and so as to develop the bilateral relationship to a new height in the 21st century, Vietnam and China agreed to strengthen and broaden their co-operation in many fields.
They agreed that the signing of "the Treaty on the Land Border between the Socialist Republic of Vietnam (SRV) and the People's Republic of China" (PRC), "the Agreement on the Demarcation of the Territorial Waters, Exclusive Economic Zones and Continental Shelves in the Bac Bo (Tonkin) Gulf between the SRV and the PRC", and "the Agreement on Fishing Co-operation in the Bac Bo Gulf between the SRV and the PRC" have historic meaning as they would help boost the neighbourly friendship and comprehensive co-operation between the two nations .
Vietnam and China reaffirmed that they would continue with the existing mechanism for sea-related issues, insisting on peaceful negotiation that seek a basic and long-lasting solution acceptable to both. In the spirit of "settling the easy first and the difficult later", both should actively discuss possible co-operation in such areas as the preservation of maritime environment, hydro-meteorology and natural disaster prevention. Simultaneously they should not take any action that could widen disputes, nor should they use or threaten to use force. Both should discuss immediately and resolve properly in a calm and constructive manner any disputes that might happen so as to prevent such disputes from causing a negative impact on the normal development of bilateral ties.
Both reiterated their common view as defined in the joint Vietnam-China communiques of November 10, 1991; November 22, 1994; and December 2, 1995 and the February 27, 1999 joint Vietnam-China statement. Vietnam affirmed its policy of one China and recognises that the Government of the People's Republic of China was the sole legitimate government of all China. Taiwan was an inseparable part of China.
Vietnam established non-governmental economic and commercial relations only with Taiwan and has not developed government relations with Taiwan. China welcomed Vietnam's stand. It affirmed that the Taiwan issue was entirely an internal affair of China and China strongly opposed governmental relations with Taiwan in any form by those countries that have established diplomatic relations with China.
Vietnam, China sign co-operation agreements
The joint statement and four agreements for co-operation between Vietnam and China were signed in Beijing on December 25.
The joint statement set the framework for comprehensive co-operation between the two countries in the new century. The agreements were: the Agreement on the Demarcation of the Territorial Waters, Exclusive Economic Zones and Continental Shelves of the Bac Bo (Tonkin) Gulf by Vietnam's Foreign Minister, Nguyen Dy Nien, and his Chinese counterpart, Tang Jiaxuan; the Agreement for Fishing Co-operation in the Bac Bo Gulf, signed by Vietnam's Minister of Fisheries, Ta Quang Ngoc, and Chinese Minister of Agriculture, Chen Yaobang; the Agreement for Co-operation in the Use of Atomic Energy for Peaceful Purposes, signed by Vietnam's Deputy Minister of Science, Technology and Environment, Hoang Van Huay, and China's Deputy Minister of Science and Technology Ma Congde; and the Agreement for Co-operation between the Vietnam News Agency and China Xinhua News Agency signed by General Directors of both agencies, Ho Tien Nghi and Tian Tongming.
President Tran Duc Luong and President Jiang Zemin witnessed the signings which took place during President Tran Duc Luong's first day in Beijing as part of a five-day official visit. In the evening, President Jiang Zemin gave a banquet in honour of President Tran Duc Luong and his entourage at the Great Hall of the People in the Chinese capital.