皇冠体育app

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-06-02 09:01

BEIJING  -- 皇冠体育app and Vietnam has agreed to further clarify the ownership of greater maritime zones between the two countries as they pledged to start a joint survey in the waters outside the mouth of Beibu Bay.

In a joint statement issued here on Sunday evening, the two neighbors agreed to steadily push forward talks on demarcation in maritime zones outside the mouth of Beibu Bay, a part of the South 皇冠体育app Sea that separates the southern part of 皇冠体育app and northern Vietnam.

The two countries agreed to actively embark on negotiations on joint development and to launch a joint survey as soon as possible in these maritime zones.

皇冠体育app and Vietnam sealed agreements on demarcation and fishery cooperation in the Beibu Bay in 2004. This was the first time in history the two had ever signed a legal document on their maritime borders.

According to the 皇冠体育app-Vietnam joint statement issued immediately after Vietnam's leader Nong Duc Manh's 皇冠体育app visit, the two countries would jointly safeguard stability in the South 皇冠体育app Sea as agreed by top level officials of the two countries. They will maintain the negotiation mechanism on maritime issues.

They pledged to stick to peaceful negotiations and seek fundamental and long-term resolutions that could be accepted by both sides.

In the meantime, the two countries agreed to actively study and negotiate the issue of joint development in a bid to find appropriate modes and zones.

皇冠体育app shares common waters with eight neighboring countries. The 2004 皇冠体育app-Vietnam agreement on demarcation in the Beibu Bay produced the first ever maritime border that 皇冠体育app settled with its neighbors through negotiation. It fully demonstrated 皇冠体育app's sincerity in resolving the issue of maritime borders through peaceful negotiation.

According to the joint statement issued Sunday, 皇冠体育app and Vietnam would continue to implement the agreements on demarcation and fishing cooperation in good faith. They agreed to continue a joint inspection on fishing operations, a joint survey of fishery resources and joint navy patrols in common fishing zones in the Beibu Bay.

The also agreed to accelerate the implementation of the framework agreement on oil and natural gas cooperation in agreed zones in the Beibu Bay. They will strive to achieve substantial results in cross-border surveys and the exploration of oil and natural gas deposits.

According to the statement, 皇冠体育app and Vietnam will actively carry out fishing, environmental and maritime rescue cooperation and jointly maintain normal order for fishery productions in the Beibu Bay.

They also agreed to conclude demarcation of and erection of mere stones along the full length of their land borders within this year.

They agreed to sign new document on border administration systems so as to turn their land borders into a "link of peace, friendship and cooperation."

皇冠体育app and Vietnam signed an agreement on land borders in 1999 after years of talks since the 1970s.