Jiang calls for speedy solution on maritime border with Vietnam BEIJING - Chinese President Jiang Zemin called Wednesday for a speedy solution on the disputed maritime border with Vietnam in the Gulf of Tonkin, the official Xinhua news agency reported. Speaking during a meeting with visiting Vietnamese parliament chairman Nong Duc Manh, Jiang hailed the signing in December of a treaty on land borders and said the two Communist countries should stand together. "The early solution of historical problems is in the fundamental interests of the two peoples," said the Chinese leader. Jiang also "expressed the belief that the demarcation of the Beibu (Tonkin) Gulf can be properly resolved as scheduled thanks to the efforts of both sides." Vietnam's official press has reported that the 12th round of negotiations on the maritime border broke up on March 22 in Beijing without a solution, but that more talks are scheduled in Hanoi at the end of April. The two countries signed an accord in December agreeing on land borders, 20 years after a brief but bloody war between the two neighbors. The two countries are also in dispute over ownership of the Paracel archipelago and the Spratly islands in the South China Sea. They have set an informal deadline of wrapping up a clear border in the Gulf of Tonkin by the end of 2000, and Manh said he was hopeful this deadline would be met. "With continuous efforts from both sides we believe that the demarcation of the Beibu Gulf can be finalized within the deadline," he said, quoted by Xinhua. Manh is on a weeklong visit to China during which he is also expected to visit Shanghai, Shenzhen and Naning. He has already held talks with Chinese counterpart Li Peng. China-Vietnam relations have been gradually improving since they reestablished diplomatic relations in 1991, ending 11 years of chilly ties caused by the 1979 border clashes. AFP - April 6, 2000.