Bordergates between the two nations are bustling with activity.

Mountains connect mountains, rivers connect rivers but the border demarcation has been a long story between the two countries for thousands of years. The last border war broke out February 17, 1979 and border skirmishes continued throughout the 1980s.

In the late 19th century, the French colonial administration, on behalf of Vietnam and the Qing Dynasty, on behalf of China, concluded a formal treaty delineating the land border. From that treaty, 333 border tablets were installed. But nowadays, after the completion of the land border demarcation, there are nearly 2,000 border markers installed.

The two countries signed a land border agreement in 1999, followed by the first border marker installed on December, 2001 at the border gate of Vietnam’s Mong Cai in Quang Ninh province and China’s Dongxing in Guangxi province. The last marker finished at Vietnam’s Ban Gioc water fall in Cao Bang province and China’s Daxin district, Guangxi province on two sides of the Quay Son river.

“The completion of the land border demarcation between China and Vietnam will promote the development of the China-Vietnam strategic partnership,” Chinese Deputy Foreign Minister Wu Dawei, also head of Chinese negotiation delegation, told media after border negotiations were completed.

“The completion of this work will also benefit peace, stability and development in this region.” Dawei’s Vietnamese counterpart, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Vu Dung said the move was an historic event for bilateral ties. “This is a common victory for the Vietnam-China friendship and a vivid symbol of the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership agreed by two countries’ high-level leaders,” said Dung, adding that the event also gave new momentum to the relationship between the two countries.

Associate professor Ramses Amer of Stockholm University underscored the agreement’s significance. “The symbolism is that the demarcation was completed in time for the 30 year anniversary of the border war of 1979 sending a strong message that the two countries have improved relations and addressed contentious issues over the last 30 years.”

It also illustrated that high-level meetings between party and state leaders can lead to practical resolutions of outstanding matters, professor Carl Thayer of Australian Defence Force Academy said. “The border demarcation is a major confidence building measure between China and Vietnam. Border issues can now be handled peacefully by local authorities.”

In a recent interview on the 59th anniversary of the Vietnam-China relationship establishment in January, Chinese ambassador to Vietnam Sun Gouxiang said with the border demarcation, the two countries sent a message to the world that all bilateral issues could be negotiated between China and Vietnam. “We will be able to deal with all issues in a spirit of friendship and making concession for general interest,” said Gouxiang.

Vice chairman of Vietnam’s National Assembly’s Committee for Foreign Affairs Ngo Quang Xuan said the clearly defined border was a major turning point.

“When a big neighbour recognises and respects your national frontiers, this cements your international position,” said Xuan. The two sides have become major trade partners since normalising relations in 1991 with $21 billion in two-way trade last year.

Border gates have become major conduits for goods to flow between the nations. There are international and national border gates set up along China’s Guangxi and Yunnan with Vietnam’s Quang Ninh, Lang Son, Cao Bang, Ha Giang, Lao Cai, Lai Chau and Dien Bien provinces. The main gates such as Mong Cai-Dongxing, Huu Nghi-Youyiguan, Tan Thanh-Puzhai and Lao Cai-Hakou are always busy.

A Vietnamese border guard officer said that along the 1,400km border, there were thousands of points used to exchange products between villagers of two sides. The new borders would also help to counter criminal activities and national security issues, he said.

“Economically it will allow for better control of economic interaction across the border and it will certainly boost economic interaction,” Amer said.
With a regional view, China and Vietnam cross border trade is not just a bilateral matter. It was part of the larger greater Mekong sub-region, Thayer said. Border demarcation will give confidence to the Asian Development Bank and other international institutions to continue to invest and develop the infrastructure across mainland and Indochina.

Only two days after the negotiations ended, the Hanoi-Nan Ning railway line was put into operation on January 2, 2009, paving the way for increased economic and tourism exchanges between the two countries. Vietnam’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Pham Gia Khiem said the two sides would also look to exploit the tourism potential of the Ban Gioc water fall.

The two countries would discuss and sign a government agreement on the establishment of an area of free movement along the border at the mouth of Bac Luan river, said Khiem. “With the sides’ efforts and determination, the land border between Vietnam and China will truly become a borderline of peace, stability, friendship and cooperation,” he said.

VietNamNet/VIR