Hanoi (VNA) - The Party and Stateattach importance to the maintenance and development of stable friendship andcooperation with neighbouring countries, making this a top priority inVietnam's foreign policy, said Deputy Foreign Minister Le Hoai Trung.

In his article titled “Firmly defending borderand territorial sovereignty” on the occasion of the 30th ongoing DiplomaticConference in Hanoi, Trung emphasised the importance of safeguarding thenational border and territorial sovereignty and building peaceful borders with neighboursChina, Laos and Cambodia.

Vietnam has a 5,000-km-long land border sharedwith China in the north, Laos in the west and Cambodia in the southwest, which passesthrough 25 border localities of Vietnam and 21 in the neighbouring countries.  

The country also has 28 provinces and cities along a coastline of about 3,260 kilometres,more than 3,000 islands and islets and the two archipelagoes of Hoang Sa (Paracel) and Truong Sa (Spratly).

In recent years, Vietnam has basically completedland border demarcation and marker plantingwith its neighbouring nations, and cooperated with relevant sides to manage theborder, thus ensuring security, order and social safety in border areas.

The management of the Vietnam-China land border has been a bright spot in therelationship between the two countries. The boundary line and marker systemhave been firmly protected.

Vietnam and Laos have completed increasing and upgrading border markersalong their national boundary and signed andimplemented two new legal documents on border management.

Meanwhile, the Vietnam-Cambodia land border demarcation and marker planting hasseen positive changes. The two countries' leaders agreed that the two sideswill sign two legal documents to record the completion of 84 percent of thework.

These results have given Vietnam and its neighbouringnations a border with high international legal value, which is important forborder management.

From 2016 up to now, the situation in the East Sea has not seen serious incidents,but there are some new developments, which pose unpredictable risks andchallenges, the article said.

In this context, Vietnam has resolutely and persistently worked in all fronts toprotect the country’s sovereignty over Hoang Sa and Truong Sa archipelagos,maintaining national sovereignty, sovereign rights and jurisdiction over itswaters and continental shelf and islands in line with international law,including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea 1982 (UNCLOS1982).

Vietnam has maintained and promoted negotiation mechanisms onmaritime issues with related countries, including China, Indonesia andMalaysia.

The country has also worked with ASEAN and China to promote thefull and effective implementation of the Declaration of the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC) and approved a draft framework ofthe Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC). The sides are working on the content of the COC.

Regarding future plans, Deputy FM Trung said the border and territory situationwill continue to see complicated developments and challenges.

He underlined the need to continue to manage and protect the boundaries andland markers, while enhancing cooperation with neighbouring countries inbuilding peaceful and stable borderlines, thus facilitating development inborder areas.

At sea, Vietnam will continue to affirm its consistent policy in resolutelydefending the national sovereignty, sovereign rights and jurisdiction asdefined by international law, including UNCLOS 1982; promote the country’s roleand position at regional and international forums and work with relevantparties to resolve disputes peacefully, the article said.-VNA