Vietnam and Cambodia agree to complete border demarcation

Vietnam and Cambodia have agreed to finalize a plan for the remaining 16% of the un-demarcated land boundary during the ongoing visit by Vietnamese President Nguyen Xuan Phuc.

Vietnam's President Nguyen Xuan Phuc (L) and Cambodia's Prime Minister Hun Sen in Phnom Penh on Dec 21. Photos: VNA

The two sides reached a consensus at the meeting on December 21 between State President  Nguyen Xuan Phuc and Cambodia’s Prime Minister Hun Sen who agreed to solve arising problems in the spirit of solidarity and friendship, to turn the Vietnam-Cambodia border into one of peace, stability, and cooperation.

Vietnam and Cambodia have completed 84% of the demarcation work so far.

In 2019, the two countries signed the Supplementary Treaty to the 1985 Treaty on the Delimitation of the National Boundaries and the 2005 Supplementary Treaty between Vietnam and Cambodia, and the Protocol on the Demarcation and Marker Planting of the Land Boundary between Vietnam and Cambodia.

The two countries have been demarcating the 1,270-kilometre border since 2006.

Between 2006 and 2019, both countries built 2,047 border markers at 1,553 locations along a 1,045-km borderline, according to Vietnam’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Local experts said that completing 84% of the Vietnam-Cambodia demarcation work is a “feat for both countries” as the borderline spans across 10 Vietnamese provinces and 9 Cambodian provinces, through mountains, jungles, and rivers. The work, though it costs great efforts, demonstrates good cooperation and friendship between the two nations.

The demarcation contributes to the political stability and economic development of both countries and the region as well as smooths cross-border trade. 

The two sides at a meeting on Dec 21.

Broader cooperation

During the visit, the Vietnamese president also paid courtesy visits to Buddhist Great Supreme Patriarch Tep Vong, Buddhist Supreme Patriarch of Dhamma Mahanikaya of Cambodia, and Samdech Preah Abhisiri Sugandha Mohasangharajah Dhipati Bour Kry, Great Supreme Buddhist Supreme Patriarch of Dhammayuttikanikaya of Cambodia.

Phuc and Hun Sen agreed to boost economic ties that cover legal and judicial affairs, labor and social affairs, information and communication technology (ICT), culture, sports, tourism, aviation, banking and finance, agriculture, forestry and fisheries, and cooperation between border areas of both countries.

On this occasion, Vietnam and Cambodia issued a joint statement, the ninth of its kind, after the ones signed in 1999, 2005, 2009, 2011, 2014, 2016, 2017, and 2019, emphasizing the importance of advancing the bilateral relations in the spirit of “good neighborliness, traditional friendship, comprehensive cooperation, and long-term stability”.

In terms of economics, the two sides agreed to expedite the completion of the Master Plan on Viet Nam – Cambodia Economic Connectivity 2030 by the end of 2022. They agreed to promote the implementation of the Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement and the Agreement for the Avoidance of Double Taxation, facilitate the development of border trade by accelerating the signing of the Border Trade Agreement, developing border trade infrastructure with new border markets and building Special Economic Zones in bordering provinces.

Regarding the post-pandemic cooperation, they will accelerate discussions towards mutual recognition of vaccine passports/certificates, facilitation of travel for citizens of both countries, timely resumption of direct flights in a safe manner.

President Phúc reaffirmed Viet Nam's continued provision of health care and treatment for Cambodian patients in Ho Chi Minh City-based hospitals similar to Vietnamese patients and in accordance with Viet Nam's payment scheme for uninsured patients.

The two countries signed seven agreements, namely 2022 Cooperation Plan between the Ministry of Interior of Cambodia and the Ministry of Public Security of Viet Nam; Annual Cooperation Plan for the year 2022 between the two Ministries of Defense; Agreed Minutes of the 19th Meeting of the Cambodia - Viet Nam Joint Commission on Economic, Cultural, Scientific and Technological Cooperation; Agreed Minutes of the meeting between two Chairmen of the Cambodia - Viet Nam Joint Border Commission; Memorandum of Agreement on Education Cooperation for 2021-2025; Memorandum of Understanding on the Conclusion of the Border Trade Agreement between Cambodia and Viet Nam; Work Plan for 2022-2023 between the two Ministries of Justice. In addition, the two countries’ businesses also signed a number of business contracts and cooperation agreements.

On regional issues, Vietnam reaffirmed its commitment to lend its utmost support to Cambodia during the Chairmanship of ASEAN in 2022.

Meanwhile, the two sides reiterated ASEAN’s common position on the importance of maintaining peace, security, stability, safety, and freedom of navigation in and overflight above the South China Sea.

The two leaders agreed to promote dialogues and trust-building, exercising self-restraint, upholding international law, resolving disputes through peaceful means in accordance with international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), to effectively implement the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC) and work towards the conclusion of the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea (COC).

Vietnam's President Nguyen Xuan Phuc and high-ranking Vietnamese officials paid courtesy visit to Buddhist Great Supreme Patriarch Tep Vong on Dec 22.