VietNamNet Bridge – At meetings last week in Beijing between the top leaders of the Communist Party of Vietnam and China, and high-ranking officials of the two governments--constructive viewpoints on dealing with sea-related issues were put forward.
Concerning the East Sea dispute as an extremely sensitive and complicated issue for both Parties and both States, since it is associated with national sovereignty, the two Party chiefs, Mr. Nguyen Phu Trong and Mr. Hua Jintao, confirmed that this issues can completely solved based on the two countries’ strategy and the two people’s interests.

The two sides agreed that “the satisfactory settlement of sea-related issues between Vietnam and China is suitable for the basic interests and common aspirations of the two countries’ people and helpful for regional peace, stability, co-operation and development.”

Notably, the two sides signed a significant agreement with six basic principles to solve sea-related issues.

Specifically, before achieving a definite settlement of the sea-related disputes, the two sides will together preserve peace and stability in the East Sea, maintain a cool-headed and restrained attitude, avoid taking any acts that can complicate or expand the disputes, prevent hostile forces from sabotaging the relationship between the two Parties and two countries, deal with emerging issues with a constructive attitude, preventing them from affecting the relations between the two Parties and two countries, as well as peace and stability in the East Sea.

Sea-related issue is one of the three most important, sensitive matters left by the history in the bilateral ties of Vietnam-China. This is the last and most difficult matter that the two countries must solve.

Before Party Secretary General’s visit to China (October 11-15), foreign news wires made different views about the results of this trip.

The talks between the two Party chiefs in Beijing took place at the moment that the two sides needed to look straight to the issue to find out definitive solutions for the East Sea disputes.

Wishing to seek “satisfactory settlement that is suitable for the basic interests and common aspirations of the two countries’ people”, the six-point agreement is described by the two sides as important guidance for solving sea-related issues.

The agreement shows the two sides’ efforts in clearing up the issue to turn East Sea into the sea of peace, friendship and cooperation, contributing to maintain peace and stability in the region.

Based on the agreement, the two countries will strengthen negotiation on sea-related issues in order to seek long-term and basic solutions that the both sides can accept, and positively exchange to seek temporary and transitional solutions that do not affect the point of view and policy of each side.

The two sides confirmed to solve the sea-related issues based on a legal regime and principles defined by international law, including the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, make efforts to seek basic and long-term solutions acceptable to both sides for sea-related disputes, and seriously implement the principles and spirit of the “Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea” (DOC).

There were two sensitive matters in the history of Vietnam-China relations - land demarcation and the borderline in the Tonkin Gulf – and both of them were solved completely.

The six-point agreement on solving sea-related matters between Vietnam and China is the first step in a process to seek a long-term solution for the sea-related matters.

In a joint statement, the two sides agreed to further strengthen “strategic trust”, comprehensive cooperation and satisfactorily solve existing matters between the two countries.

Outstanding features of Party Secretary General Nguyen Phu Trong’s visit to China:

-    It is the first official visit to China made by Mr. Trong. China is the first big partner outside Southeast Asian region that Mr. Trong paid a visit to.

-    The two countries signed some important documents, including: cooperation between the two Parties in the next five years, Agreement on basic principles guiding the settlement of sea issues, the five-year Economic-trade Cooperation Development Plan between the Vietnamese and Chinese Governments for the 2012-2016 period, an agreement on education exchange for the 2011-2015 period between the Vietnamese Ministry of Education and Training and the Chinese Ministry of Education, a protocol between the Vietnamese and Chinese governments amending the Road Transport Agreement, a protocol on implementing the Road Transport Agreement and an agreement on basic principles guiding the settlement of sea issues between Vietnam and China.

-    The two sides officially set up a hot phone line between top leaders.

-    Releasing an 8-point joint statement showing common acknowledge of the two sides on the relations between the two Parties, two States and key directions for development the comprehensively strategic ties between Vietnam and China.
 
Linh Thu