Negotiations until 2am on Vietnam-China land border
Báo Thanh niên•19/11/2024
"We raised our glasses to celebrate with tears in our eyes, thinking of the sacrifices of our compatriots and soldiers to have the peaceful Vietnam-China border today."
Former Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Ho Xuan Son, former Chairman of the National Border Committee, recalled his feelings at the time when Vietnam and China completed negotiations on land border demarcation and marker planting 25 years ago (2009), at a commemorative conference organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs this morning, August 2. Mr. Son said that in April 1978, he and a number of people were sent by the State to study in Beijing, China. When the train passed Dong Dang station (Lang Son), he heard the story of a Vietnamese border guard being beaten and injured by Chinese soldiers in the border area.
"I was really shocked, because this was the first time we had a border dispute with China. I understood that this was a time bomb in the relationship between comrades and brothers between Vietnam and China," Mr. Son recalled. On August 26, 1978, Mr. Son acted as an interpreter for the head of the China Department to communicate with the Chinese Ambassador about the murder of border guard Le Dinh Chinh. "From then on, I understood that the border is a barometer of the relationship between the two countries. That barometer is showing that the provocations and border encroachments on the Vietnam-China border are becoming increasingly tense, which means that the Vietnam-China relationship is getting worse and worse," Mr. Son recalled, adding that by February 17, 1979, the provocations and border encroachments had exploded into a war along the entire border. According to the former Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, immediately after normalizing relations, Vietnam and China urgently negotiated on the land border. By the end of 2008, of the 289 disputed areas, there were 2 areas classified into one package: Ban Gioc waterfall and Bac Luan river mouth. Due to the negotiation process, "no one would give in", so we had to leave it for final settlement. "On November 29, 2008, I was able to join the Prime Minister's delegation to Bac Luan river mouth in Quang Ninh province. I remember the Prime Minister (former Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung - PV) said: Quang Ninh province has a prime location, a market of 200 million people (meaning the population of Guangdong, Guangxi, Hainan provinces of China), Quang Ninh must strive to become a growth pole of the North. For a long time, the whole country has been for Quang Ninh. Now the time has come for Quang Ninh to also be for the whole country. Soon, the Party Central Committee will decide how to resolve the issue of Tuc Lam sandbank (one of the disputed points in the demarcation and planting of land border markers at Bac Luan river mouth - PV). I hope that comrades will agree and support," Mr. Son shared. Mr. Son said that one month later, Vietnam and China negotiated in Hanoi . The two sides argued fiercely. At about 6:00 p.m. on December 31, 2008, the head of our delegation proposed to temporarily stop the negotiations to meet the press, declaring that the demarcation and marker planting had been completed because it would have to be resolved tonight anyway. "After meeting the press, the two sides continued to negotiate until 2:00 a.m. on January 1, 2009, when the Ban Gioc waterfall and Bac Luan river mouth packages were resolved, marking the end of the demarcation and marker planting work along the entire Vietnam-China land border," Mr. Son said.
"We raised our glasses to celebrate with tears in our eyes, thinking of the countless sacrifices of our compatriots and soldiers to have a peaceful border today.
We understand that without a good relationship between the two countries, the border issue cannot be resolved. But without a peaceful and friendly border, it is difficult to have a solid foundation for mutual trust to enhance cooperation and development. These two are closely intertwined and interact with each other."
Former Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Ho Xuan Son
"As good as the time of President Ho Chi Minh and Chairman Mao Zedong"
Have Vietnam and China taken full advantage of the advantages of a peaceful, friendly, cooperative and developing border? Mr. Ho Xuan Son said that, besides the great achievements, there are still certain delays in implementing the common perception of senior leaders on a number of cooperation projects in the border area. He cited the "One Belt, Two Corridors" project, especially the connection between the Hai Phong - Hanoi - Lao Cai railway and the Hekou - Kunming railway, which was studied since 2005, but has not been implemented after 20 years. Meanwhile, in 2017, China completed the Nanning - Kunming - Fangcheng railway to the Gulf of Tonkin. In 2021, China completed the Kunming - Vientiane railway and will soon complete the Vientiane - Bangkok route to the sea. In addition, the issue of cross-border economic zones in Lang Son, Cao Bang, or tourism cooperation at Ban Gioc waterfall (Cao Bang), or free passage of ships in the Bac Luan estuary area were also raised by leaders of both sides quite early, but so far they have not been able to be implemented. "I suggest that on this occasion of the anniversary, we should review where the above cooperation projects are stuck, what the causes are, how to resolve them, then discuss with the Chinese side to find solutions to resolve them, in order to soon bring practical benefits to both sides," Mr. Son suggested.
Head of the Central External Relations Commission Le Hoai Trung speaks at the conference
VNA
In his speech at the conference, Head of the Central External Relations Commission Le Hoai Trung also emphasized the importance of resolving border issues in the relationship between the two countries. "Resolving the border well helps promote relations. On the contrary, having a good relationship facilitates resolving border issues," said Mr. Le Hoai Trung. Mr. Trung emphasized that the Vietnam - China relationship is developing well. This is an extremely important condition to consolidate a peaceful, friendly, cooperative and developing border. "Senior Chinese leaders said that the current Vietnam - China relationship is as good as the time of President Ho Chi Minh and Chairman Mao Zedong," Mr. Trung added. Regarding upcoming tasks, Mr. Trung emphasized the modernization of border gate management because there is still much work to be done. In addition, the Head of the Central External Relations Commission suggested seriously studying China's proposals on border gates such as the issue of smart border gates, or tourism cooperation at Ban Gioc waterfall, Cao Bang province. These are also issues proposed by the National Border Committee, Ministry of Foreign Affairs. This agency proposed that the Government allocate capital to increase investment in building border patrol roads, border monitoring and protection works, and landmarks. At the same time, invest in transport infrastructure connecting the border area with the inland, develop the railway and road transport system connecting across the Vietnam - China border, and infrastructure in border gate areas, turning the Vietnam - China border area into a gateway for trade between China and ASEAN. In addition, modernize and digitize border and border gate management; upgrade equipment serving the work of border management forces in the field. Regarding cooperation in Ban Gioc waterfall tourism, this agency proposed that the People's Committee of Cao Bang province actively exchange and coordinate with the Chinese side to continue piloting the Ban Gioc waterfall landscape area. At the same time, propose and agree on a plan and direction for the official operation of the Ban Gioc waterfall landscape area, after the end of the pilot operation on September 15.
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