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.
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