Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Gia Khiem has said that Vietnam and China should speed up the implementation of their land border treaty to help deepen the bilateral strategic partnership.

The Deputy PM made the statement in Hanoi on Aug. 13 while receiving Chinese Deputy FM Wu Dawei, who is heading a governmental delegation to Hanoi for negotiations on border and territory.

Deputy PM Khiem appreciated the significance of the completion of land border demarcation and landmark planting of the two countries, urging that legal documents be finalised and all the necessary preparations be made in a timely manner.

He stressed that the two countries’ border negotiations are in a new stage, where the focus has turned to sea-related issues.

According to him, the two sides should thoroughly study and understand their agreements, diligently observe the Declaration of the Conduct of Parties on the East Sea (DOC), respect international law, particularly the United Nations’ 1982 Convention on the Laws of the Sea, and continue friendly consultations to come up with long-term solutions to sea-related issues, and maintain peace and stability at sea.

The Deputy PM also praised new developments in bilateral relations, underscoring that the two countries should intensify cooperation in all fields, starting with the organisation of the Vietnam-China Year of Friendship in 2010.

He acknowledged China’s active response to Vietnam’s requests that Vietnamese fishermen and ships seized by China be treated in a friendly and humanitarian manners, and asked relevant Chinese authorities to continue driving for home on remaining issues.

He expressed his thanks to China for the timely rescue of Vietnam’s Hoang Phuong 02 cargo ship and its ten crew members from the Goni typhoon on Aug. 8.

For his part, Wu stressed that the Chinese Party, Government and people always attach importance to cooperation with Vietnam.

He said the Vietnam-China border negotiations have produced positive results and expressed his belief that the two countries would soon resolve emerging sea-related issues, thus helping strengthen the two countries’ cooperation./.