Q: Would you please tell us the main outcomes of the process of resolving the Vietnam-Laos border issue as a Chairman of the National Border Committee under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs?
A: The Vietnam - Laos border line is approximately 2,337 km long and is contiguous to 10 provinces of Vietnam and 10 provinces of Laos. Vietnam and Laos concluded negotiations and signed the Border Delimitation Treaty between Vietnam and Laos on July 18, 1977, establishing a political and legal basis for resolving border and territory issues between the two countries.
In the implementation of the Treaty, the two sides basically completed the border demarcation work between 1978-1987 and had resolved the arising issues related to border marker planting, including the transfer of land and the transfer of local residents and property aligned with international law, the special relationship between the two countries and the real situation of the border between the two countries.
All of these results were recognised by the two sides through the signing of the Supplementary Treaty to the 1976 Treaty on Boundary Delimitation on January 24, 1986; the Protocol on Border Demarcation and Border Planting on the Field on January 24, 1986; and Supplementary Protocol to the Protocol on Field Border Demarcation and Border Planting on October 16, 1987.
From 1987 to the present, together with the joint management, protection and construction of the shared border, the two sides have completed the compiling of a set of maps of the Vietnam - Laos borderline on a 1:50,000 scale; resolving all deviations related to boundaries and border markers; working with China to carry out border marker planting and sign a Treaty on the border T-junction of Vietnam, Laos and China; and working with Cambodia to carry out border marker planting and sign a Treaty on the border T-junction of Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia.
From 2008 to 2016, the two countries jointly implemented the project to upgrade and increase the number of border markers along the Vietnam-Laos border in order to improve the borderline quality between the two countries.
The two countries' border marker system now has 1,002 landmarks and piles at 905 sites, which are detailed in the Protocol on the Vietnam - Laos borderline and national border markers signed on March 16, 2016.
Q: Can you please tell us main contents of the two legal documents signed between Vietnam and Laos which came into effect from September 5, 2017 and plans to implement the two documents?
A: The Protocol on the Vietnam - Laos borderline and national border markers, signed on March 16, 2016, is a State-level legal document recording all the results of resolving the border issues between the two countries. The Protocol includes the border demarcation results in the period 1977-1987; the results of resolving certain contradictions and deviations of the borderline and national border markers; and the results of the project to increase and upgrade the Vietnam-Laos border marker system in the 2008-2016 period.
Notably, the Protocol accurately depicts the position of the 1,002 landmarks and piles which are measured by GPS and are described in detail the direction of the boundary and the terrain of the borderline from north to south. The protocol also consists of four attached appendices, the most important of which is the 1:50,000 scale set of Vietnam-Laos borderline maps, which shows all the results of resolving the border issues between the two countries.
The Vietnam – Laos Agreement on Border and Border Gate Management Regulations
includes provisions on border regulations and mechanisms for cooperation between the functional forces of the two countries in the management and protection of the borderline and the system of national landmarks, in addition to handling border events and managing the border gate system in order to maintain security and safety in border areas and to facilitate the exchange and socio-economic development between the two countries.
Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has recently assigned specific tasks to each ministry, sector and locality involved in the implementation of these two documents.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will also coordinate with the Lao side to develop and publish publications on the Vietnam-Laos border to provide to the ministries, sectors, local administrations and related forces.
It will also coordinate with the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment to publish a set of standard maps on the Vietnam-Laos national borderline, in addition to holding training courses to disseminate information on the outcomes of the settlement of border issues, bilateral legal documents, and related regulations on border management and protection.
Moreover, the related ministries, sectors and localities of Vietnam and Laos will continue to work closely with each other to timely address any arising issues in accordance with the two legal documents and hold an annual review and assessment of the implementation of the two legal documents.
Q: Can you please share with us about the goals and solutions to build a Vietnam – Laos borderline of peace, friendship and cooperation for our mutual development in the near future?
A: Vietnam – Laos shared border areas have played a significantly strategic role in the security, defence and socio economic situation of the two countries. Stable and developed border areas will help to strengthen and consolidate the solidarity and attachment between the peoples living across the border line, while fostering the economic, cultural and social development of localities along the shared border line, in turn contributing to the stability and development of each country and promoting the friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and Laos.
Thus, the building of a Vietnam – Laos borderline of peace, friendship, stability and cooperation for mutual development is an issue which the relevant ministries, sectors and localities need to grasp thoroughly. The most important task is to realise a legal document on border issues which have been signed by the two sides, focussing on the following major tasks:
Firstly, tightening the bilateral cooperation in maintaining security and order in border areas, remaining vigilant in the fight and prevention of trans-border criminals, particularly illegal trafficking of drugs, weapons and humans; smuggling and trade fraud. The relevant ministries, sectors and localities must direct the functional forces to closely coordinate with each other in addressing any cases that may arise in order to prevent and break down pilots of hostile forces and maintain stability in border areas.
Secondly, creating favourable policies to attract more investment to upgrade the technical infrastructure and traffic system; develop economy, trade, culture and tourism; ensure defence and security in border areas, while improving the mental and spiritual life of residents there, thus narrowing the development gap between the areas and others in the country.
Thirdly, accelerating the popularisation and education on the laws, and the implementation of the Vietnam – Laos Agreement on Border and Border Gate Management Regulations in particular, to people, officers and soldiers. Meanwhile, measures need to be taken to improve the management and protection of the borderline and border landmark system, alongside stepping up the implementation of the Agreement.
Fourthly, closely coordinating with the Lao side in addressing any remaining issues in managing border areas, with the focus being put on such issues below:
(1) Effectively implementing the Government-level bilateral agreement on undocumented migrants and unregistered marriages in border areas in a bid to strengthen and consolidate the traditional friendship, special solidarity, and comprehensive cooperation between the two countries
(2) Build and effectively implement a master plan for border trade between the two countries up to 2025, with a vision to 2035, in order to facilitate trade exchange in the border areas, increase State budget revenues, attract investment capital for the development of border gate economic zones, and contribute to ensuring security and order in the border areas.
Fifthly, Vietnamese localities should attach greater priority on coordinating with the Lao side in realising agreements on border areas which have been signed between the two countries, deepening bilateral cultural, socio-economic cooperation, and improving the standards of living for people in border areas. The local authorities should also work out policies encouraging enterprises and people to conduct business in border areas, attracting investment to improve traffic routes which run through border areas, and upgrading existing border gates in a bid to elevate the role of Vietnam-Laos border areas in the two countries’ development process.
