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Joint Vietnam - China statement for comprehensive cooperation

HANOI - Viet Nam and China signed a joint statement in Beijing on Dec. 25 for comprehensive cooperation in the new century. Signatories were Foreign Minister Nguyen Dy Nien of Viet Nam and Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan of China. Following is the full text of the statement:

"The Socialist Republic of Viet Nam and the People's Republic of China (hereunder called "the two sides") are neighbouring socialist countries bound by a time-honoured traditional friendship. Over the past 50 years since the establishment of bilateral diplomatic relations, Viet Nam-China relations have been constantly consolidated and developed.

"Since the two countries normalized their relations in 1991, on the basis of the principles recognised in the "Joint Communiques" of 1991, 1992, 1994 and 1995, and the "Joint Statement" of 1999 signed during the meetings of the two countries' top leaders, the traditional friendship, mutual trust, equality and mutual benefits between the two countries have developed rapidly in all fields and exchanges between sectors and agencies have taken place regularly. "In February 1999, the General Secretaries of the two Parties defined the line for the two countries' relations in the 21st century, that is "neighbourly friendship, comprehensive cooperation, long-lasting stability and future-oriented thinking". This conforms to the two peoples' fundamental interests and benefits peace, stability and development in the region and the world.

"The two sides reaffirm that they will follow the guidelines and principles of the United Nations Charter, the five principles of peaceful co-existence and the principles of international relations which have been mutually recognised, to boost comprehensive development of bilateral relations. The Communist Party of Viet Nam and the Communist Party of China will continue to develop the friendly and cooperative relations based on the principles of independence, sovereignty, full equality, mutual respect and non-interference in each other's internal affairs.

"To effectively realise the guideline (neighbourly friendship, comprehensive cooperation, long-lasting stability and future-oriented thinking) and to develop the two countries' relationship to a new height in the 21st century, the two sides have agreed to strengthen and broaden their cooperation in the following fields:

I - To regularly hold high-level meetings, creating a new driving force to boost the development of bilateral relations; and further promote friendly contacts and cooperation in various forms between the two countries' branches, agencies, mass organisations and localities.

II - To imbue the young generations of the two countries with the traditional friendship by increasing the exchange of friendly visits between them, thus helping enhance mutual trust and friendship and hand down the long-standing bonds, trust and cooperation between the two countries to the future generations.

III - On the basis of the principles of equality, mutual benefit, actual efficiency and mutual support, and in diversified forms of development, to continue to strengthen and broaden cooperation in economic, commercial, scientific and technological areas between the two countries. Therefore, the two sides have agreed to make joint efforts in the following fields:

1- To fully promote the role of the Inter-Governmental Committee on Economic and Commercial Cooperation in boosting economic and commercial, investment and cooperative ties between the two countries. Through various forms, to further promote the leading role of major companies, expand whole- sale trade, encourage and support enterprises of both countries to carry out major projects, and broaden economic and commercial cooperation and investment between both sides. To create a favourable business environment, fully tap the potentials of both sides and ensure stable and continual growth of two-way trade: To maintain a stable investment policy and create favourable conditions for investment by enterprises of both sides; to actively implement "the Agreement on Trade in the Border Areas", and to strengthen coordination in the management and control of cross-border trade in accordance with regulations.

2/ To promote the role of macro-scaled regulation and guidance of the Inter-Governmental Committee for Scientific and Technological Cooperation. The two countries will bolster scientific and technological cooperation and exchange. They will guide and encourage related governmental agencies and research institutions, universities and enterprises which operate in the service of scientific and technological development to expand cooperation in information, bio-technology, agriculture, meteorology, oceanography, environmental protection and the use of atomic energy for peaceful purposes and other fields of mutual concern.

3/ To actively accelerate bilateral cooperation for mutual benefits in agriculture, forestry and fisheries; encourage and support relevant enterprises and agencies of both sides to promote exchange and cooperation in such fields as crop and animal hybrids, farm and forest product processing, farm machinery manufacture, sea fishing and aqua-culture.

4/ To accelerate exchange and cooperation in finance, monetary management and macro-economic regulation.

5/ To promote cooperation in communications and transport; develop passenger and cargo transportation on the international railway between the two countries, expand the international railway to third countries and increase the exchange of staff and cargoes.

6/ To encourage the post services of the two countries to promote exchange and cooperation in modernising their post and telecommunication networks, applying advanced technology, and providing new services.

7/ To expand cooperation in tourism; encourage the tourist services of the two countries to develop cooperation and exchange of experience in management, advertising and marketing, human resource training, and create favourable conditions for people from Viet Nam and China as well as from third countries to visit the two countries.

8/ To accelerate cooperation and the exchange of information in environmental protection, natural disaster control and hydro-meteorology; make joint efforts to promote cooperation in exploiting the Mekong River basin.

9/ To expand cooperation and the exchange of experience in planning, construction, management, urban development and personnel training. (To be continued).

IV - The two sides commit to continue strengthening cooperation and coordination at multilateral, regional and international forum including the United Nations, ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF), the East Asia Cooperation, the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum and the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM), promoting the solidarity and cooperation between developing countries; continue working for the establishment of a just and rational political and economic order; and make new contributions to the maintenance of peace, stability and development in the region and the world at large. The two sides highly appreciate the positive role played by ASEAN for regional stability and development and reiterate that they will continue to work to strengthen mutual trust and good neighbourliness between ASEAN countries and China, and make positive efforts for sustainable stability and prosperity in Asia, particularly in Eastern Asia. They will also continue to strengthen the annual consultation mechanism between senior officials of the two foreign ministries to exchange views on bilateral relations and regional and international issues of common interest.

V - By carrying out multi-level military exchanges in various fields to enhance mutual understanding and trust, build closer relations between the national defence offices and armed forces of the two countries, and expand exchange and cooperation in the security field.

VI - To enhance exchange and cooperation between the cultural, sports and media agencies of the two countries by encouraging the exchange of visits and personnel training.

VII - To expand cooperation in education and training, including the exchange of students and lecturers, and encouraging and supporting both sides' universities, educational sectors and research institutions to boost direct cooperation.

VIII - To strengthen cooperation in preventing and fighting transnational crimes as well as exchange and cooperation between judicial and public security agencies, courts and procuracies of the two sides, and to enhance the exchange of experiences in fighting corruption and upholding honesty between discipline and inspectorate organs of the two sides.

IX - The two sides agreed that the signing of "the Treaty on the Land Border between the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam (SRV) and the People's Republic of China" (PRC), "the Agreement on the Demarcation of Waters, Exclusive Economic Zones and Continental Shelves in the Bac Bo (Tonkin) Gulf between the SRV and the PRC", and "the Agreement on Fishing Cooperation in the Bac Bo Gulf between the SRV and the PRC" are of profound historical significance, thus helping to boost neighbourly friendship and comprehensive cooperation between the two nations in the 21st century. The two sides pledged to implement these agreements in earnest and effectively cooperate with each other to build a border of peace, friendship and permanent stability. The two sides agreed to maintain the existing negotiation mechanisms on marine issues and to persist in seeking a fundamental and everlasting solution acceptable to both sides through peaceful negotiations. Pending that solution, the two sides will, in the spirit of tackling easier issues before difficult ones, actively explore possibilities and measures for cooperating in environmental protection, meteorology, hydrology, disaster prevention and mitigation. At the same time, they will not take actions to complicate or aggravate disputes, nor will they resort to force or threat of force. They will consult each other in a timely manner in case of disputes and adopt a cool and constructive attitude to handle them properly in order not to allow disputes to impede the normal development of bilateral ties.

X - The two sides reaffirmed the consensus reached in the Viet Nam-China Joint Communiques signed on November 10, 1991, November 22, 1994 and December 2, 1995 and the February 27, 1999 joint Viet Nam-China statement; wherein Viet Nam affirms its policy of one China and recognizes that the Government of the People's Republic of China is the sole legitimate government of all China, and that Taiwan is an inseparable part of China. Viet Nam has only established non-governmental economic and commercial relations with Taiwan and has not developed government relations with Taiwan. China welcomed Viet Nam's stand. China affirmed that the Taiwan issue is entirely an internal affair of China and that it strongly opposes governmental relations with Taiwan in any form by those countries that have established diplomatic relations with China

Vietnam News Agency - December 26, 2000.