China and Vietnam held ceremonies Thursday morning in Dongxing in
south China's
Guangxi
Zhuang Autonomous Region and Mong Cai in Vietnam for the unveiling
of their first new boundary tablet.
The erection of the boundary tablet, another important step in
solving the land boundary issue between the two countries, marks
the formal implementation of the Land Boundary Treaty signed
between the two sides two years ago and the inauguration of the
establishment of new boundary tablets.
Wang Yi, vice-foreign minister and head of the Chinese government
delegation for border negotiations, attended the ceremony in
Dongxing and spoke highly of the positive development of
Sino-Vietnamese relations over the past few years.
He
said that China and Vietnam are connected by mountains and waters,
and their borders should become a bridge for friendship and
cooperation.
The treaty has legalized the common aspiration of the two peoples
for harmonious co-existence and common development, and laid a firm
foundation for security, prosperity and stability along border
areas of the two countries, noted Wang.
The erection of the boundary tablet indicates that the two sides
are, through their joint efforts, ready to turn their border into a
link for peace, cooperation and development, added Wang.
Wang also said that the work of demarcation and setting up boundary
tablets is expected to finish within three years.
The land boundary demarcation between China and Vietnam is an
important step for the two countries that are in the process of
settling the boundary issue, said the Chinese Foreign Ministry
Spokeswoman Zhang Qiyue Thursday afternoon.
She told a regular press conference those ceremonies for the
unveiling of the first land boundary tablet was held Thursday
morning in Dongxing of Guangxi in China and Mong Cai in
Vietnam.
The move meant the start of implementation of the land boundary
treaty between the two countries and of the surveying of boundary
and establishment of boundary tablets, she noted.
The spokeswoman said that land boundary demarcation is of
significance in safeguarding the peace and stability of the border
regions between China and Vietnam, and helps promote personnel
contact and trade cooperation and furthers the good-neighborly
relations between the two countries.
(
December 28, 2001)