7-7-2023 (HANOI) Vietnam and China held the 16th round of talks on the Gulf of Tonkin and the 13th round of talks on cooperation and development in the sea. The negotiations took place in the city of Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China on July 4, according to a statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs today.
This is the first direct round of talks between the two working groups since the outbreak of Covid-19. The meeting was chaired by Trinh Duc Hai, Deputy Head of the National Border Committee of Vietnam’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Duong Nhan Hoa, Deputy Director-General of the Boundary and Ocean Affairs Department of China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Both sides reiterated their principled positions on the issue of delimitation of the Gulf of Tonkin and discussed cooperation and development based on the appropriate application of international law, especially the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). They also agreed to respect each other’s legitimate and just concerns and to earnestly implement the common understanding reached between the leaders of the two parties and two countries, as well as the “Agreement on the Basic Principles Guiding the Settlement of Issues in the Vietnam-China Seas.” The discussions aimed to promote consistent dialogue on the delimitation of the Gulf of Tonkin and cooperation and development in the sea.
Vietnam and China agreed to promote cooperation at sea and expedite negotiations for a new agreement on fisheries cooperation in the Gulf of Tonkin. This will contribute to maintaining peace and stability in the East Sea and the region and make positive contributions to the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership between Vietnam and China.
Vietnam and China began negotiations on the delimitation of the Gulf of Tonkin at the beginning of 2012, agreeing to hold biannual talks, taking turns in each country. The most recent round of negotiations took place online in December 2021.
Experts evaluate that the agreements on the delimitation of the Gulf of Tonkin and cooperation on fisheries in the Gulf of Tonkin, signed by the two countries in 2000, have clearly defined the scope and established a clear and favorable international legal framework, providing conditions for each country to protect, manage, utilize, exploit, and develop the economic resources of their respective maritime areas and continental shelves in the Gulf of Tonkin.
