Vietnam border, seas, islands

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh and Lao Foreign Minister Saleumxay Kommasith have exchanged the Protocol on Vietnam-Laos borderline and border markers and the Agreement on Vietnam-Laos border and border checkpoint management regulations, which took effect on September 5, 2017 on the occasion of the 55th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic ties.

The document exchange took place during the fourth Vietnam-Laos ministerial-level consultation in Hanoi on December 6, co-chaired by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh and Lao Foreign Minister Saleumxay Kommasith.

Both sides expressed their delight at the extensive and effective development of bilateral ties, saying that high-level agreements and the plan on cooperation between the two governments for 2017 have been basically completed, laying foundation for the implementation of the Vietnam-Laos Bilateral Cooperation Agreement for 2016-2020.

The two countries also completed a project on increasing and upgrading markers along their borderline, stepped up strategic economic connectivity, especially key transport projects, and improved the efficiency of education-training partnership.

The two foreign ministries will push the implementation of high-level agreements while making preparation for a Vietnam visit by Lao Party General Secretary and President Bounnhang Vorachith, a meeting between the two Politburos and the 40th meeting of the Vietnam-Laos Inter-Governmental Committee in early 2018.

Looking back at activities to celebrate the 55th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic ties and the 40th anniversary of the signing of Vietnam-Laos Treaty of Amity and Cooperation this year, the two sides agreed that 2017 has become a common festival of the two countries.

On the occasion, the two ministers exchanged the Protocol on Vietnam-Laos borderline and border markers and the Agreement on Vietnam-Laos border and border checkpoint management regulations, which took effect on September 5, 2017 on the occasion of the 55th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic ties.

FM Minh asked the Lao government to continue providing support for Vietnamese nationals living in the country, especially in procedures on naturalisation, issuance of long-term residence cards and business registration.

The Lao FM agreed with solutions proposed by Vietnam to deepen bilateral ties in the future and promised to create favourable conditions for Vietnamese nationals, workers and firms in Laos.

Laos will do its best to promote the traditional friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation with Vietnam, he said.

Vietnam and Laos share a 2,337 km border running north to south – the longest land border Vietnam shares with a neighbouring country. It runs through 10 Vietnamese and 10 Lao provinces. On July 18, 1977, Vietnam and Laos concluded negotiations and signed the Convention on National Border Demarcation.

Accordingly, from 1978-1987, both sides basically completed border demarcation in the field and settled emerging issues such as the transfer of land, people and assets in line with international law. The results were hailed in the Supplementary Treaty to the 1976 Treaty on National Boundary Delimitation signed on January 24, 1986 and the Protocol on border demarcation in the field and border marker planting inked on January 24, 1986 and the supplementary Protocol to the Protocol on border demarcation in the field and border marker planting signed on October 16, 1987.

Since 1987, the two sides have devised a digital Vietnam-Laos national map at a scale of 1:50,000, dealt with all discrepancies in borderline, border markers and border sections, signed the Vietnam – Laos – China and Vietnam – Laos – Cambodia border conventions.

From 2008-2016, the two countries partnered to implement the project on increasing and upgrading Vietnam-Laos border markers. There are now 1,002 border markers and posts at 905 positions, which are specified in the Protocol on Vietnam – Laos borderline and border markers signed on March 16, 2016.

Regarding main contents of two Vietnam – Laos legal documents which took effect on September 5, 2017, Trung said the Protocol on Vietnam – Laos borderline and border markers signed on March 16, 2016 featured the outcomes of border demarcation and marker planting from 1977-1987, the settlement of several demarcation differences and the implementation of a project on increasing and upgrading Vietnam-Laos border markers for 2008-2016.

The Agreement on Vietnam – Laos border and border gate management regulations comprises specific provisions regarding collaboration between the two countries’ agencies in managing and safeguarding borderline and border markers, handling border events and managing border gates to maintain security, social safety and order in border areas.-VNA