Vietnam has strictly abided by agreements with Cambodia on managing the shared border during the process of demarcation and border marker planting in the land border between the two countries, declared Foreign Ministry’s Spokesperson Le Hai Binh on July 16.

Binh made the statement in response to reporters’ queries on Cambodia ’s announcement that Vietnam agreed with Cambodia on the postponement of construction activities in a number of border areas along the shared border.

Binh clarified that in diplomatic notes to Cambodia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and agencies for border affairs, as well as in the meeting of the two chairmen of the Joint Committee on Border Demarcation and Marker Planting from July 6-9, Vietnam clearly confirmed that all Vietnamese construction projects in border areas in recent years are within territory under Vietnam’s management.

Point 8 of the Vietnam-Cambodia joint press communiqué on January 17, 1995 defines that the two sides agree that while waiting for the settlement of differences on border lines, the two countries maintain current management; do not change or move border markers; educate the community and prevent them from tilling the land; and work together for the maintenance of border security and order, the spokesperson noted.

He added that in order to show the country’s goodwill and create favourable conditions for the demarcation and marker planting in this important period, a diplomatic note dated July 6, 2015 to Cambodia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation as well as the Joint Committee on Border Demarcation and Market Planting meeting, Vietnam officially proposed that Cambodia join a commitment not to construct works within 100 metres from the real management line towards each country in areas where demarcation and marker planting is taking place or exchanges have not finished in line with the memorandum of understanding on land border adjustment between the two countries signed on April 23, 2011.

“Unfortunately, the Cambodian side did not respond to the goodwill proposal of Vietnam,” the spokesperson stated.-VNA