RESOLUTION No. 36/2000/QH10 OF JUNE 9, 2000 ON THE RATIFICATION OF THE LAND BORDER AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE SOCIALIST REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM AND THE PEOPLE�S REPUBLIC OF CHINA

THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY OF THE SOCIALIST REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM

Pursuant to Article 84 of the 1992 Constitution of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam;

At the proposal of the State President;

After considering the report of the Government, the report of the National Assembly�s Committee for External Affairs, and the opinions of National Assembly deputies on the ratification of the Land Border Agreement between the Socialist Republic of Vietnam and the People�s Republic of China,

RESOLVES:

1. To ratify the Land Border Agreement between the Socialist Republic of Vietnam and the People�s Republic of China.

2. The Socialist Republic of Vietnam reaffirms its determination together with the People�s Republic of China to build the Vietnam-China borderline into a peaceful, stable and permanent one, contributing to preserving and developing the traditional neighborly and friendly relationship between the two countries on the basis of respect for each other�s independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity, non-infringement upon each other, non-interference in each other�s internal affairs, equality, mutual benefit and peaceful co-existence.

3. To assign the Government to direct the competent agencies to deploy soon necessary tasks in order to sign a protocol on demarcation and placing of border markers and on determination of detailed maps; to allocate budgets for the Agreement�s implementation; to amend and supplement the current regulations relating to the management of borderlines and administrative boundaries, soon stabilizing the life of people living in border areas; together with concerned competent authorities of the People�s Republic of China to strictly implement the Agreement and properly and promptly deal with any problems that arise.

The Government shall proceed with external procedures for ratifying the Agreement and notify and guide the concerned agencies to implement this Agreement.

This Resolution was passed on June 9, 2000 by the Xth National Assembly of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam at its seventh session.

Chairman of the National Assembly
NONG DUC MANH

THE LAND BORDER AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE SOCIALIST REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM AND THE PEOPLE�S REPUBLIC OF CHINA

The Socialist Republic of Vietnam and the People�s Republic of China (hereinafter referred to as "the two signatories");

looking forward to preserving and developing the traditional neighborly and friendly relationship between the two countries and two peoples of Vietnam and China;

desirous to build a peaceful, stable and permanent border between the two countries;

on the basis of respect for each other�s independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity, non-infringement upon each other, non-intervention in each other�s internal affairs, equality, mutual benefit and peaceful co-existence;

in the spirit of mutual sympathy and concession and friendly consultation;

have decided to sign this Agreement and agreed on the following provisions:

Article I. The two signatories, having taken the historical conventions on the current border between Vietnam and China as foundations and based themselves on the recognized international legal principles as well as the agreements reached in the process of negotiation on Vietnam-China border issues, have settled their border issues in a fair and reasonable manner and re-determined the land borderline between the two countries.

Article II. The two signatories have agreed that the land borderline between the Socialist Republic of Vietnam and the People�s Republic of China is defined in the west-to-east direction as follows:

Marker point No. 1 is situated at the point with an elevation of 1875 of Khoan La San mountain (Thap Tang Dai Son), which is about 2.30 km west-northwest of the point with an elevation of 1439 in the Vietnamese territory, about 3.70 km west-northwest of the point with an elevation of 1691 in the Vietnamese territory, and about 2.00 km south of the point with elevation of 1203 in the Chinese territory.

From marker point No. 1, the borderline follows the watershed between the upstream creeks of Nam Mo Phi and Nam Sa Ho rivers flowing into the Vietnamese territory and the upstream creeks of Chinh Khang river flowing into the Chinese territory in the general direction of north-northeast to east, passing through the points with elevations of 1089, 1275 and 1486 to the point with an elevation of 1615, thence continues to follow the above-said watershed in the general direction of north to northeast, passing through the point with an elevation of 1221 to the point with an elevation of 1264, thence follows the mountain crest southeastwards to the point with an elevation of 1248, thence follows a small mountain crest northeastwards to marker point No. 2. This marker point is situated in the middle of Nam Nap (Thap Noa) river, about 0.70 km southwest of the point with an elevation of 1369 in the Vietnamese territory, about 0.87 km northwest of the point with an elevation of 1367 in the Vietnamese territory, about 0.80 km east-southeast of the point with an elevation of 1256 in the Chinese territory.

From marker point No. 2, the borderline runs downstream Nam Nap (Thap Noa) river in the direction of north to northeast to its confluence with Ta Lo Phi Ma (Nam Ma) river, thence continues to run downstream the river northwards to its confluence with Da (Ly Tien) river, thence follows Da (Ly Tien) river eastwards to its confluence with Nam La (Tieu Hac) river, thence runs upstream Nam La (Tieu Hac) river to marker point No. 3. This marker point is situated at the confluence between Nam La (Tieu Hac) river and Nam Na Pi stream, about 1.87 km west-southwest of the point with an elevation of 978 in the Vietnamese territory, about 0.50 km north-northwest of the point with an elevation of 620 in the Chinese territory, and about 4.40 km east-northeast of the point with an elevation 1387 in the Chinese territory.

From marker point No. 3, the borderline leaves the river and joins up with a mountain crest northwestwards to the point with an elevation of 1933, thence follows the watershed between the upstream creeks of La Po, La Si, A Hu, Nam Sau, Nam Kho Ma, Nam Ha Xi, Nam Ha Ne, Nam Xi Lung, Nam Ha, Nam Nghe, Nam Den Thang and Nam Pang streams flowing into the Vietnamese territory and the upstream creeks of Zhe Dong, Ha Luo Luo Ba, Da Tou Lou Ba, Mo Wu Luo Ba, Na Bang, Ge Jie, Da Luo, Nan Bu, Xiao Weng Bang, Qiao Cai Ping, Nan Yan and Jin Shui rivers flowing into the Chinese territory, in the general direction of northeast to southeast, then northeast, passes through the points with elevations of 1690, 1975, 1902, 2121, 2254, 2316, 1831, 3074, 2635, 2199, 2133, 2002, 1800 to the point with an elevation of 1519, thence runs along the mountain crest in the general easterly direction to an unnamed mountain summit, thence follows a small mountain crest eastwards to marker point No. 4. This marker point is situated in the middle of Nam Le (Cach Gioi) stream, about 2.05 km north-northeast of the point with an elevation of 1451 in the Vietnamese territory, about 2.90 km southeast of the point with an elevation of 845 in the Chinese territory and about 1.62 km southwest of the point with an elevation of 1318 in the Chinese territory.

From marker point No. 4, the borderline runs downstream Nam Le (Cach Gioi) stream in the general direction of northeast to northwest to its confluence with Nam Na river, thence runs downstream Nam Na river in the direction of southeast to east to its confluence with Nam Cum (Dang Dieu) river, thence goes upstream Nam Cum (Dang Dieu) river in the general northeasterly direction to the head of Phi Ho (Dang Diem) stream, thence follows a small ravine in the general east-northeasterly direction to marker point No. 5. This marker point is situated at the adjoining point of the above-said ravine and the mountain crest, about 0.62 km east-northeast of the point with an elevation of 2283 in the Vietnamese territory about 0.45 km south-southeast of the point with an elevation of 2392 in the Chinese territory, and about 1.50 km west of the point with an elevation of 2361 in the Chinese territory.

From marker point No. 5, the borderline runs along the mountain crest southwards to the point with an elevation of 2413, thence follows the watershed between Ta Pao Ho, Then Theo Ho, Panh Ho, Nam Nung and Nam Lon streams in the Vietnamese territory and San Cha, Tai Yang Zhai, Man Jiang, Wu Tai, Shi Dong, Ping, Zhong Liang and Cha rivers in the Chinese territory in the general southeasterly direction, passes through the points with elevations of 2468, 3013, 2539 and 2790 to marker point No. 6. This marker point is situated at the point with an elevation of 2836, about 1.40 km north of the point with an elevation of 2381 in the Vietnamese territory, about 3.00 km east-northeast of the point with an elevation of 2531 in the Vietnamese territory, and about 3.05 km south-southwest of the point with an elevation of 2510 in the Chinese territory.

From marker point No. 6, the borderline runs along the mountain crest southwestwards to a point in the vicinity of the saddle northeast of the point with an elevation of 2546 in the Vietnamese territory, thence follows a ravine southeastwards to the head of Lung Po (Hong Nham) stream, thence goes downstream Lung Po (Hong Nham) stream and along its lower creek in the general northeasterly direction to its confluence with the Red river, thence the borderline runs downstream the Red river southeastwards to its confluence with Nam Thi (Nam Khe) river, thence runs upstream Nam Thi (Nam Khe) river in the general northeasterly direction to its confluence with Ba Ket (Ba Cat) river, thence goes upstream Ba Ket (Bat Tu) river in the general northerly direction to its confluence with an unnamed stream tributary, thence runs upstream such unnamed stream northwards to marker point No. 7. This marker point is situated in the middle of the above-mentioned unnamed stream tributary, about 2.00 km northwest of the point with an elevation of 614 in the Vietnamese territory, about 1.20 km northeast of the point with an elevation of 595 in the Chinese territory, and about 0.65 km east of the point with an elevation of 463 in the Chinese territory.

From marker point No. 7, the borderline leaves the stream northeastwards to the point with an elevation of 143, thence runs in the northeasterly direction, cuts through a ravine, joins up with a mountain crest in the northerly direction, passes through the points with elevations of 604, 710, 573, 620, 833, 939 and 1201 to the point with an elevation of 918, thence follows the watershed line between the river creeks in the Vietnamese territory and the river creeks in the Chinese territory in the general northeasterly direction, passes through the points with elevations of 1158, 1077, 997, 1407, 1399, 1370, 1344, 1281, 1371, 1423, 1599, 1528, 1552, 1372, 1523 and 1303 to the point with an elevation of 984, thence follows a small mountain crest in the general southerly direction to marker point No. 8. This marker point is situated at the confluence between Xanh (Qua Sach) river and one of its western creeks, about 3.85 km east of the point with an elevation of 1521 in the Vietnamese territory, about 3.82 km south-southwest of the point with an elevation of 1346 in the Chinese territory, and about 2.27 km west-northwest of the point with an elevation of 1596 in the Chinese territory.

From marker point No. 8, the borderline runs along Xanh (Quan Sach) river in the general southerly direction to its confluence with and Chay river, thence upstream Chay river in the general southeasterly direction to marker point No. 9. This marker point is situated at the confluence between Chay river and Xiao Bai river, about 2.95 km east of the point with an elevation of 1424 in the Vietnamese territory, about 2.00 km northeast of the point with an elevation of 1031 in the Vietnamese territory, and about 1.40 km south of the point with an elevation of 1076 in the Chinese territory.

From marker point No. 9, the borderline leaves the river and joins up with a mountain crest, thence goes along the mountain crest in the general southeasterly direction, passes through the point with an elevation of 741 to the point with an elevation of 1326, thence goes along the watershed between the creeks of Chay river flowing into the Vietnamese territory and the creeks of Xiao Bai river flowing into the Chinese territory in the general northeasterly direction, passes through the points with elevations of 1681, 1541, 1716, 2002 and 1964, an unnamed mountain summit (Dai Nham Dong) to the point with an elevation of 1804, thence follows the red line on the map attached to the Agreement to the point with an elevation of 1623, thence goes along the watershed line between Nan Xin stream in the Vietnamese territory and Xiao Bai river in the Chinese territory northeastwards, passes through the point with an elevation of 1638 to the point with an elevation of 1661, thence runs along a ravine northeastwards down to the middle of Ho Pa stream, thence goes downstream this stream to its confluence with one of its creeks, thence leaves the stream and joins up with the mountain crest, thence follows the mountain crest west-northwestwards and passes through the point with an elevation of 1259 to marker point No. 10. This marker point is situated at a mountain crest, about 1.25 km north-northwest of the point with an elevation of 1461 in the Vietnamese territory, about 0.90 km east of the point with an elevation of 1692 in the Chinese territory, and about 2,10 km south of the point with an elevation of 1393 in the Chinese territory.

From marker point No. 10, the borderline goes along the red line on the map attached to the Agreement to the point with an elevation of 948, thence along a mountain crest in the direction of northeast to east, passes through the point with an elevation of 1060 to marker point No. 11. This marker point is situated at the confluence between Do (Nam Bac) stream and its southwestern creek (Qua Giai), about 0.70 km northeast of the point with an elevation of 841 in the Vietnamese territory, about 1.50 km southeast of the point with an elevation of 982 in the Chinese territory, and about 1.15 km south-southwest of the point with an elevation of 906 in the Chinese territory.

From marker point No. 11, the borderline goes along Do (Nam Bac) stream to its confluence with Nam Cu (Nam Giang) stream, thence upstream Nam Cu (Nam Giang) stream to marker point No. 12. This marker point is situated at the confluence between Nam Cu (Nam Giang) stream and its northwestern creek, about 2.80 km north-northwest of the point with an elevation of 1151 in the Vietnamese territory, about 1.40 km southeast of the point with an elevation of 986 in the Chinese territory, and about 0.80 km west of the point with an elevation of 858 in the Chinese territory.

From marker point No. 12, the borderline leaves the stream and joins up with a mountain crest, thence goes along the mountain crest in the general southeasterly direction, passes through the point with an elevation of 1071 to the point with an elevation of 1732, thence along the watershed between the river creeks in the Vietnamese territory and the river creeks in the Chinese territory in the general direction of east to north then northeast, passes through the points with elevations of 1729, 2071, 1655, 1705, 1423 to marker point No. 13. This marker point is situated at an unnamed mountain summit, about 1.55 km west-northwest of the point with an elevation of 993 in the Vietnamese territory, about 1.15 km north-northwest of the point with an elevation of 1044 in the Vietnamese territory, and about 0.70 km southeast of the point with an elevation of 1060 in the Chinese territory.

From marker point No. 13, the borderline continues to run along the above-mentioned watershed eastwards to a point about 70 m southwest of the point with an elevation of 1422, thence follows the red line on the map attached to the Agreement to a point lying on the watershed and about 90 m north-northeast of the point with an elevation of 1422 (an area of 7,700 m2 lying between the above-mentioned red line and the watershed belonging to China), thence the borderline continues to follow the above-mentioned watershed in the general easterly direction and passes through the points with elevations of 1397, 1219, 657 and 663 to an unnamed mountain summit southeast of this point, thence goes along a ravine northwards to Na La stream, thence goes downstream this stream northeastwards to marker point No. 14. This marker point is situated at the confluence between Na La stream and Lo (Pan Long) river, about 3,20 km west-northwest of the point with an elevation of 922 in the Vietnamese territory, about 0.50 km north-northeast of the point with an elevation of 183 in the Vietnamese territory, and about 0.65 km east of the point with an elevation of 187 in the Chinese territory.

From marker point No. 14, the borderline follows the red line on the map attached to the Agreement, passes through the point with an elevation of 428 to the saddle between the point with an elevation of 1169 in the Vietnamese territory and the point with an elevation of 1175 in the Chinese territory, thence goes along a mountain crest in the general direction of north to northwest, passes through the points with elevations of 1095, 1115, 1022, 1019, 1094, 1182, 1192, 1307, 1305 and 1379 to the point with an elevation of 1397, thence continues to go along the mountain crest in the general northerly direction, passes through the points with elevations of 1497, 1806, 1825, 1952, 1967, 2122 and 2038 to marker point No. 15. This marker point is situated at an unnamed mountain summit about 2.90 km northwest of the point with an elevation of 1558 in the Vietnamese territory, about 1.55 km east of the point with an elevation of 2209 in the Chinese territory, and about 1.70 km south-southwest of the point with an elevation of 2289 in the Chinese territory.

From marker point No. 15, the borderline goes along the mountain crest in the general easterly direction, passes through the point with an elevation of 2076, after cutting across a stream, to an unnamed mountain summit, thence follows the red line on the map attached to the Agreement, passes through the points with elevations of 1887 and 1672 to the point with an elevation of 1450, thence goes along the mountain crest in the general direction of south to east, and north to northeast, passes through the points with elevations of 1438, 1334, 716 and 1077 to marker point No. 16. This marker point is situated at the point with an elevation of 1592, about 2.40 km north of the point with an elevation of 1079 in the Vietnamese territory, about 3.25 km southeast of the point with an elevation of 1026 in the Chinese territory, and about 1.05 km west-northwest of the point with an elevation of 1521 in the Chinese territory.

From marker point No. 16, the borderline goes along the mountain crest in the general direction of southeast to north, passes through the points with elevations of 1578, 1503, 1493, 1359, 1342 and 1296 to the point with an elevation of 606, thence goes along a small mountain crest in the direction of north-northwest to northeast to marker point No. 17. This marker point is situated in the middle of Mien (Babu) river, about 3.30 km northwest of the point with an elevation of 654 in the Vietnamese territory, about 4.10 km north-northwest of the point with an elevation of 1383 in the Vietnamese territory, and about 1.70 km south-southeast of the point with an elevation of 882 in the Chinese territory.

From marker point No. 17, the borderline follows the red line on the map attached to the Agreement in the general east-northeasterly direction to the point with an elevation of 799, thence goes along a mountain crest in the general northeasterly direction, passes through the points with elevations of 998, 1096, 1029, 1092 and 1251 to the point with an elevation of 1132, thence follows the red line on the map attached to the Agreement to the point with an elevation of 1628, thence goes along a mountain crest in the general direction of southeast to northeast, passes through the points with elevations of 1647, 1596, 1687, 1799, 1761 and 1796 to marker point No. 18. This marker point is situated at the point with an elevation of 1568, about 0.90 km north of the point with an elevation of 1677 in the Vietnamese territory, about 0.70 km southeast of the point with an elevation of 1701 in the Chinese territory, and about 1.55 km southwest of the point with an elevation of 1666 in the Chinese territory.

From marker point No. 18, the borderline goes along the mountain crest in the general direction of east-southeast to northeast, passes through the points with elevations of 1771, 1756, 1707, 1500, 1683, 1771, 1651, 1545, 1928 and 1718 to the point with an elevation of 1576, thence, goes northwestwards through two ravines, passes through the point with an elevation of 1397, thence joins up with a mountain crest, thence continues to go along the mountain crest in the direction of northwest to northeast, passes through the point with an elevation of 1748 to the point with an elevation of 1743, thence continues to go along the mountain crest in the direction of east to north-northeast, passes through the points with elevations of 1806, 1650, 1468, 1516, 1344 and 1408 to an unnamed mountain summit northwest of the point with this elevation, thence goes along the mountain crest northeastwards to marker point No. 19. This marker point is situated in the middle of Nho Que (Pu Mei) river, about 1.60 km west-northwest of the point with an elevation of 1477 in the Vietnamese territory, about 1.30 km east-northeast of the point with an elevation of 1464 in the Chinese territory, and about 1.20 km south of the point with an elevation of 1337 in the Chinese territory.

From marker point No. 19, the borderline runs downstream Nho Que (Pu Mei) river in the general direction of northeast to southeast to marker point No. 20. This marker point is situated in the middle of Nho Que (Pu Mei) river, about 1.30 km east-northeast of the point with an elevation of 1062 in the Vietnamese territory, about 5.20 km north-northwest of the point with an elevation of 1080 in the Vietnamese territory, and about 2.85 km south of the point with an elevation of 1443 in the Chinese territory.

From marker point No. 20, the borderline leaves the river and joins up with a small mountain crest northeastwards to the point with an elevation of 801, thence follows a straight line southeastwards for about 2,400 m to the point with an elevation of 1048, goes southeastwards across a ravine and joins up with the mountain crest, thence goes along the mountain crest in the general direction of southeast to northeast, passes through the points with elevations of 1122, 1170 and 1175 to the point with an elevation of 1641, thence goes along the mountain crest northwestwards, cuts across a ravine, thence joins up with the mountain crest in the north-northeasterly direction, passes through the points with elevations of 1651 and 1538 to marker point No. 21. This marker point is situated at the point with an elevation of 1697, about 1.85 km north of the point with an elevation of 1642 in the Vietnamese territory, about 1.80 km southeast of the point with an elevation of 1660 in the Chinese territory, and about 2.40 km south-southwest of the point with an elevation of 1650 in the Chinese territory.

From marker point No. 21, the borderline follows the red line on the map attached to the Agreement in the general southeasterly direction to the point with an elevation of 1591, thence goes along a mountain crest south-southeastwards, passes through the points with elevations of 1726, 1681 and 1699 to the point with an elevation of 1694, thence follows the red line on the map attached to the Agreement southeastwards, passes through the points with elevations of 1514 and 1486 to the point with an elevation of 1502, thence goes along the mountain crest in the direction of south to southeast, passes through the points with elevations of 1420, 1373 and 1365 to an unnamed mountain summit north-northwest of the point with an elevation of 1383 in the Vietnamese territory, thence the borderline follows a straight line east-northeastwards to a small mountain summit, thence again follows the straight line in the same direction to marker point No. 22. This marker point is situated in the middle of an unnamed river (Yan Dong), about 2.45 km north of the point with an elevation of 1255 in the Vietnamese territory, about 1.30 km southeast of the point with an elevation of 1336 in the Chinese territory, and about 1.22 km west-southwest of the point with an elevation of 956 in the Chinese territory.

From marker point No. 22, the borderline runs downstream the above-mentioned unnamed river (Yan Dong) northeastwards, thence leaves the river, passes through the point with an elevation of 888, joins up with a mountain crest in the general direction of southeast to south-southwest, passes through the point with an elevation of 1091, an unnamed mountain summit east of the point with an elevation of 1280 in the Vietnamese territory, the points with elevations of 1288, 1282, 1320, 1212, 1218, 1098 and 1408 to the point with an elevation of 1403, thence follows the red line on the map attached to the Agreement in the general direction of south to southeast, passes through the points with elevations of 1423 and 1378 to the point with an elevation of 451, thence goes along a mountain crest eastwards to marker point No. 23. This marker point is situated in the middle of Coc Pang stream, about 3.10 km west-northwest of the point with an elevation of 962 in the Vietnamese territory, about 2.55 km northwest of the point with an elevation of 680 in the Vietnamese territory, and about 1.60 km southwest of the point with an elevation of 723 in the Chinese territory.

From marker point No. 23, the borderline leaves the stream and goes along a ravine eastwards, thence follows a pathway south of the mountain crest or on the mountain crest in the general easterly direction, passes through the points with elevations of 914, 962 and 901 to the point with an elevation of 982, thence goes upstream a mountain slope northeastwards and joins up with the mountain crest, thence goes along the mountain crest in the general easterly direction and passes through the points with elevations of 819 and 877 to marker point No. 24. This marker point is situated at an unnamed mountain summit about 1.53 km northeast of the point with an elevation of 783 in the Vietnamese territory, about 1.15 km north of the point with an elevation of 1418 in the Vietnamese territory, and about 2.00 km southeast of the point with an elevation of 779 in the Chinese territory.

From marker point No. 24, the borderline follows the red line on the map attached to the Agreement in the direction of north-northwest to southeast, passes through the points with elevations of 1212, 1506, 1489 and 1461 to the point with an elevation of 921, thence cuts across Khuoi Giuong stream east-southeastwards and joins up with a mountain crest, thence goes along the mountain crest in the general southeasterly direction, passes through the points with elevations of 1265, 1191 and 1301 to marker point No. 25. This marker point is situated in the middle of Gam (Bai Nan) river, about 1.70 km north of the point with an elevation of 798 in the Vietnamese territory, about 0.65 km west-northwest of the point with an elevation of 755 in the Chinese territory, and about 1.45 km south of the point with an elevation of 936 in the Chinese territory.

From marker point No. 25, the borderline leaves the river and joins up with a small mountain crest southeastwards to the point with an elevation of 908, thence goes along the mountain crest in the general southeasterly direction, passes through the point with an elevation of 1196, an unnamed mountain summit north-northwest of the point with an elevation of 1377 in the Vietnamese territory, the points with elevations of 1254, 1297, 1274, 1262, 994 and 1149, an unnamed mountain summit east of the point with an elevation of 1302 in the Vietnamese territory, the points with elevations of 1013, 1165 and 829 to marker point No. 26. This marker point is situated at the point with an elevation of 1028, about 1.50 km east-northeast of the point with an elevation of 1272 in the Vietnamese territory, about 1.65 km southeast of the point with an elevation of 1117 in the Vietnamese territory, and about 1.35 km west-northwest of the point with an elevation of 893 in the Chinese territory.

From marker point No. 26, the borderline follows the red line on the map attached to the Agreement southeastwards to the point with an elevation of 662, thence goes along a straight line eastwards for about 500m to an unnamed mountain summit, thence goes along a mountain crest in the general direction of north to east-northeast, passes through the points with elevations of 934 and 951 to the point with an elevation of 834, thence follows a ravine east-northeastwards, cuts across Na Thin stream, thence goes along the mountain crest, passes through the point with an elevation of 824 to the point with an elevation of 1049, thence goes along the mountain crest and the ravine southeastwards, cuts across a small mountain crest, thence goes down the ravine eastwards to marker point No. 27. This marker point is situated in the middle of Na Ri stream, about 1.05 km east of the point with an elevation of 772 in the Vietnamese territory, about 2.65 km northwest of the point with an elevation of 1334 in the Vietnamese territory, and about 1.10 km southeast of the point with an elevation of 848 in the Chinese territory.

From marker point No. 27, the borderline leaves the stream, runs up a ravine to a mountain crest east-northeastwards to the point with an elevation of 706, thence goes along the mountain crest in the direction of north to east-southeast, passes through the points with elevations of 807, 591, 513 and 381 to the point with an elevation of 371, thence follows the mountain crest eastwards to the middle of Pai Ngam (Ping Meng) stream, thence goes upstream this stream northwards for about 200m, leaves the stream and follows the red line on the map attached to the Agreement, passes through the points with elevations of 591, 722, 818, 706 and 890 to marker point No. 28. This marker point is situated at the point with an elevation of 917, about 1.55 km northwest of the point with an elevation of 668 in the Vietnamese territory, about 1.75 km south-southeast of the point with an elevation of 943 in the Chinese territory, and about 1.90 km east-northeast of the point with an elevation of 955 in the Chinese territory.

From marker point No. 28, the borderline goes along a mountain crest in the general easterly direction, passes through the points with elevations of 790, 803, 601, 524 and 934, an unnamed mountain summit south of the point with an elevation of 1025 in the Chinese territory, the points with elevations of 871 and 964, an unnamed mountain summit south of the point with an elevation of 855 in the Chinese territory, the points with elevations of 978 and 949 to the point with an elevation of 829, thence follows a mountain slope eastwards to marker point No. 29. This marker point is situated at the point with an elevation of 890, about 1.50 km northeast of the point with an elevation of 1007 in the Vietnamese territory, about 1.05 km northwest of the point with an elevation of 1060 in the Vietnamese territory, and about 2.45 km southwest of the point with an elevation of 1047 in the Chinese territory.

From marker point No. 29, the borderline goes along the mountain slope south of the point with an elevation of 1073 in the Chinese territory eastwards to the point with an elevation of 1077, thence follows the mountain crest in the general direction of east to southeast, passes through the points with elevations of 1104, 1115, 1073, 942, 832, 1068, 1066, 1066, 1030, 1028, 982, 1021, 826 and 911 to marker point No. 30. This marker point is situated at a small road about 1.40 km west of the point with an elevation of 770 in the Vietnamese territory, about 0.75 km north-northwest of the point with an elevation of 764 in the Vietnamese territory, and about 1.80 km south of the point with an elevation of 833 in the Chinese territory.

From marker point No. 30 the borderline goes along a mountain crest in the general northeasterly direction, cuts across an unnamed stream to the point with an elevation of 715, thence follows the southern and eastern sides of a road of China in the direction of east to north-northeast, cuts across a road running from Vietnam to China, thence follows a mountain slope southwest of the point with an elevation of 903 in the Chinese territory, joins up with a mountain crest southeastwards to marker point No. 31. This marker point is situated at the point with an elevation of 670, about 0.90 km northeast of the point with an elevation of 770 in the Vietnamese territory, about 0.6 km north-northwest of the point with an elevation of 823 in the Vietnamese territory, and about 0.8 km southwest the point with an elevation of 976 in the Chinese territory.

From marker point No. 31, the borderline goes along a mountain crest in the general southeasterly direction, passes through the point with an elevation of 955 to the point with an elevation of 710, thence follows the red line on the map attached to the Agreement, passes through the point with an elevation of 940 to the point with an elevation of 780, thence goes along the mountain crest northeastwards, passes through the point with an elevation of 780 to the point with an elevation of 625, thence continues to follow the mountain crest eastwards to marker point No. 32. This marker point is in the middle of Bac Vong (Ba Wang) river, about 1.35 km northwest of the point with an elevation of 792 in the Vietnamese territory, about 0.85 km northeast of the point with an elevation of 808 in the Vietnamese territory, and about 1.05 km south-southwest of the point with an elevation of 822 in the Chinese territory.

From marker point No. 32 the borderline leaves the river and joins up with a mountain crest in the general direction of east to northeast, passes through the points with elevations of 890, 667, 906, 691, 854, 884, 701, 884, 783, 619, 856, 591, 907, 651, 580, 785, 925 and 950 to marker point No. 33. This marker point is situated in the middle of Quay Son (Nan Tan) river, about 0.65 km north-northeast of the point with an elevation of 922 in the Vietnamese territory, about 1.10 km southwest the point with an elevation of 685 in the Chinese territory, and about 1.30 km east-southeast of the point with an elevation of 965 in the Chinese territory.

From marker point No. 33, the borderline leaves the river and joins up with a mountain crest northeastwards, passes through the point with an elevation of 612 to the point with an elevation of 624, thence continues to follow the mountain crest in the general southeasterly direction, passes through the points with elevations of 521, 725, 845, 825, 755, 726, 516, 735, 902, 764, 573, 693 and 627 to marker point No. 34. This marker point is situated at the point with an elevation of 505, about 1.60 km north-northeast of the point with an elevation of 791 in the Vietnamese territory, about 0.80 km east-northeast of the point with an elevation of 632 in the Vietnamese territory, and about 0.65 km south-southwest of the point with an elevation of 655 in the Chinese territory.

From marker point No. 34, the borderline follows the red line on the map attached to the Agreement, passes through the point with an elevation of 878 to the point with an elevation of 850, thence follows a mountain crest in the general direction of southeast to northeast, passes through the points with elevations of 837, 758, 712, 492, 695 and 449 to the point with an elevation of 624, thence continues to follow the mountain crest in the general direction of east-southeast to southwest, passes through the points with elevations of 731, 737, 805, 866, 752, 605 and 815 to marker point No. 35. This marker point is situated about 2.90 km northeast of the point with an elevation of 709 in the Vietnamese territory, about 1.10 km south of the point with an elevation of 782 in the Vietnamese territory, and about 0.45 km west of the point with an elevation of 794 in the Chinese territory.

From marker point No. 35, the borderline follows the red line on the map attached to the Agreement to the middle of Quay Son river, thence goes downstream this river in the general southeasterly direction to marker point No. 36. This marker point is situated in the middle of Quay Son river, about 1.20 km northeast of the point with an elevation of 660 in the Vietnamese territory, about 1.05 km west of the point with an elevation of 589 in the Chinese territory, and 0.50 km southwest of the point with an elevation of 613 in the Chinese territory.

From marker point No. 36, the borderline leaves the river and follows the red line on the map attached to the Agreement, passes through the points with elevations of 597, 653, 560, 367, 629, 717, 685 and 746 to marker point No. 37. This marker point is situated at the point with an elevation of 620, about 1.80 km east of the point with an elevation of 665 in the Vietnamese territory, about 1.50 km west-northwest of the point with an elevation of 640 in the Chinese territory, and about 1.90 km southwest of the point with an elevation of 592 in the Chinese territory.

From marker point No. 37, the borderline follows a mountain crest in the direction of southeast to west-southwest, passes through the point with an elevation of 336 to an unnamed mountain summit, thence goes along the mountain crest southeastwards to a saddle, thence follows a ravine southwestwards to the head of an unnamed stream, thence goes downstream that stream southwestwards, thence leaves the stream in the southwesterly direction, passes through the point with an elevation of 348 to a sadde, thence passes through a small valley to marker point No. 38. This marker point is situated about 0.95 km east-southeast of the point with an elevation of 723 in the Vietnamese territory, about 1.35 km northeast of the point with an elevation of 685 in the Vietnamese territory, and about 1.00 km west of the point with an elevation of 630 in the Chinese territory.

From marker point No. 38, the borderline goes along a mountain crest in the general direction of southeast to southwest, passes through the points with elevations of 635 and 656, cuts across Luoc stream, passes through the point with an elevation of 627 to an unnamed mountain summit northwest of the point with an elevation of 723 in the Chinese territory, thence in the south-southeasterly direction passes through the point with an elevation of 412, joins up with a mountain crest in the general southerly direction, passes through the points with elevations of 727, 745, 664, 487, 615, 473 and 586 to marker point No. 39. This marker point is situated in the middle of a trail about 1.20 km southeast of the point with an elevation of 682 in the Vietnamese territory, about 1.10 km southwest of the point with an elevation of 660 in the Chinese territory, and about 1.30 km west-northwest of the point with an elevation of 612 in the Chinese territory.

From marker point No. 39, the borderline follows the red line on the map attached to the Agreement, passes through the point with an elevation of 303 to the point with an elevation of 558, thence goes along a mountain crest in the general southwesterly direction, passes through the points with elevations of 591 and 521 to the middle of an unnamed stream, goes downstream this stream southwestwards to its confluence with another stream, thence leaves the stream and joins up with the mountain crest in the general direction of northwest to southwest, passes through the points with elevations of 602, 657, 698 and 565 to marker point No. 40. This marker point is situated in the middle of Bac Vong (Ba Wang) river, about 3.05 km northeast of the point with an elevation of 689 in the Vietnamese territory, about 2.06 km east-southeast of the point with an elevation of 529 in the Vietnamese territory, and about 0.95 km northwest of the point with an elevation of 512 in the Chinese territory.

From marker point No. 40, the borderline runs downstream Bac Vong (Ba Wang) river in the general southerly direction its confluence with Bang Giang river, thence runs upstream Bang Giang river in the general northwesterly direction to marker point No. 41. This marker point is situated in the middle of Bang Giang river, about 1.45 km east-southeast of the point with an elevation of 345 in the Vietnamese territory, about 1.05 km south-southwest of the point with an elevation of 202 in the Vietnamese territory, and about 1.35 km north-northeast of the point with an elevation of 469 in the Chinese territory.

From marker point No. 41, the borderline leaves the river, goes westwards to the point with an elevation of 153, thence follows a mountain crest in the direction of southwest to south, passes through the points with elevations of 332, 463, 404, 544 and 303 to the point with an elevation of 501, thence continues to follow the mountain crest in the direction of east to south, passes through the points with elevations of 255 and 259 to the point with an elevation of 472, thence further follows the mountain crest in the direction of southeast to southwest, passes through the points with elevations of 600, 552, 550, 530, 323 and 514 to an unnamed mountain summit southeast of the point with an elevation of 597 in the Vietnamese territory, thence again goes along the mountain crest southwestwards, cuts across a ravine, follows a mountain slope southeast of the point with an elevation of 658 in the Vietnamese territory in the general westerly direction to the point with an elevation of 628; thence the borderline follows a mountain crest southwards, passes through the points with elevations of 613 and 559 to a point on the mountain crest, thence follows a straight line southeastwards to marker point No. 42. This marker point is situated at the point with an elevation of 417, about 1.70 km north-northwest of the point with an elevation of 586 in the Vietnamese territory, about 1.10 km north-northeast of the point with an elevation of 494 in the Vietnamese territory, and about 1.85 km south-southwest of the point with an elevation of 556 in the Chinese territory.

From marker point No. 42, the borderline goes northeastwards to an unnamed mountain summit, thence follows a straight line eastwards to another unnamed mountain summit; thence the borderline goes along a mountain crest in the general easterly direction, passes through the points with elevations of 567, 506, 517, 534 and 563 to the point with an elevation of 542, thence follows the red line on the map attached to the Agreement to the point with an elevation of 570, thence again goes along the mountain crest in the direction of southeast to south, passes through the point with an elevation of 704 to marker point No. 43. This marker point is situated in the middle of an unnamed stream, about 0.80 km east-southeast of the point with an elevation of 565 in the Vietnamese territory, about 1.10 km south of the point with an elevation of 583 in the Chinese territory, and about 0.87 km west-southwest of the point with an elevation of 561 in the Chinese territory.

From marker point No. 43, the borderline goes downstream the unnamed stream southeastwards for about 500m, thence departs therefrom eastwards, cuts across a small mountain crest to a ravine, turns south-southeastwards down to the middle of the above-said stream, thence goes downstream this stream southwards to its confluence with another stream�s tributary, thence follows the red line on the map attached to the Agreement, passes through the points with elevations of 632 and 637 to marker point No. 44. This marker point is situated in the middle of the vista, about 0.50 km north of the point with an elevation of 666 in the Vietnamese territory, about 0.56 km southwest of the point with an elevation of 943 in the Chinese territory, and about 2.30 km west of the point with an elevation of 710 in the Chinese territory.

From marker point No. 44, the borderline follows the red line on the map attached to the Agreement (if there are any sections following the vista, it shall follow the median of the vista), passes through the points with elevations of 637 and 383 to the point with an elevation of 324, thence goes along a small mountain crest south-southwestwards to the middle of the western tributary of Khuoi Lan stream, thence goes downstream this stream southwards to marker point No. 45. This marker point is situated in the middle of Khuoi Lan stream, about 1.90 km east-northeast of the point with an elevation of 293 in the Vietnamese territory, about 1.42 km southeast of the point with an elevation of 323 in the Vietnamese territory and about 1.60 km west-southwest of the point with an elevation of 322 in the Chinese territory.

From marker point No. 45, the borderline leaves the stream and joins up with a small mountain crest east-southeastwards to the point with an elevation of 245, thence follows a straight line southwards to the middle of Ky Cung (Binh Nhi) river, thence goes upstream Ky Cung (Binh Nhi) river in the general southwesterly direction to marker point No. 46. This marker point is situated in the middle of Ky Cung (Binh Nhi) river, about 0.55 km northeast of the point with an elevation of 185 in the Vietnamese territory, about 1.22 km south-southwest of the point with an elevation of 293 in the Vietnamese territory, and about 1.45 km west-northwest of the point with an elevation of 270 in the Chinese territory.

From marker point No. 46, the borderline leaves the river southwards and joins up with a mountain crest to the point with an elevation of 269, thence goes along the mountain crest in the direction of southwest to southeast then south, passes through the points with elevations of 303, 304, 321 and 284 to marker point No. 47. This marker point is situated at the stream junction about 0.85 km south-southeast of the point with an elevation of 329 in the Vietnamese territory, about 1.65 km north of the point with an elevation of 313 in the Vietnamese territory, and about 1.20 km west of the point with an elevation of 251 in the Chinese territory.

From marker point No. 47, the borderline leaves the stream and joins up with a small mountain crest southeastwards, passes through the southwestern side of the point with an elevation of 255 in the Chinese territory, joins up with the mountain crest in the general southerly direction, passes through the points with elevations of 281 and 357 to the point with an elevation of 344, after cutting across an unnamed stream, it goes upstream a mountain slope and joins up with a mountain crest, thence follows the mountain crest and passes through the point with an elevation of 428 to the point with an elevation of 409, thence follows a straight line southwards to the point with an elevation of 613, thence follows the red line on the map attached to the Agreement to marker point No. 48. This marker point is situated at the point with an elevation of 718, about 2.44 km east of the point with an elevation of 658 in the Vietnamese territory, about 2.50 km southwest of the point with an elevation of 832 in the Chinese territory, and about 1.65 km west of the point with an elevation of 836 in the Chinese territory.

From marker point No. 48, the borderline goes along a mountain crest southeastwards to the point with an elevation of 852, thence follows the red line on the map attached to the Agreement to the point with an elevation of 695, thence goes further along the mountain crest in the direction of southwest to south, passes through the points with elevations of 702 and 411, cuts across a road, passes through the point with an elevation of 581 to marker point No. 49. This marker point is situated at the point with an elevation of 549, about 1.10 km east of the point with an elevation of 436 in the Vietnamese territory; about 1.45 km southeast of the point with an elevation of 511 in the Vietnamese territory, and about 1.40 km southwest of the point with an elevation of 557 in the Chinese territory.

From marker point No. 49, the borderline follows the red line on the map attached to the Agreement in the general direction of south-southeast to northeast, passes through the points with elevations of 359, 364 and 406 to marker point No. 50. This marker point is situated at the point with an elevation of 610, about 2.30 km west-southwest of the point with an elevation of 618 in the Vietnamese territory, about 0.90 km north of the point with an elevation of 395 in the Vietnamese territory, and about 1.80 km south of the point with an elevation of 730 in the Chinese territory.

From marker point No. 50, the borderline goes along a mountain crest north-northeastwards to an unnamed mountain summit west of the point with an elevation of 634 in the Vietnamese territory, thence follows the red line on the map attached to the Agreement, passes through the point with an elevation of 758 to the point with an elevation of 742, thence goes along the mountain crest in the general east-southeasterly direction, passes through the points with elevations of 540, 497 and 381 to marker point No. 51. This marker point is situated in the middle of Khuoi Day stream, about 0.60 km northeast of the point with an elevation of 388 in the Vietnamese territory, about 0.60 km southwest of the point with an elevation of 411 in the Chinese territory, and about 0.75 km south-southeast of the point with an elevation of 386 in the Chinese territory.

From marker point No. 51, the borderline follows the red line on the map attached to the Agreement, passes through the points with elevations of 451 and 427 to the point with an elevation of 475, thence goes along a mountain crest in the general easterly direction, passes through the points with elevations of 499, 506, 511, 475, 477, 483 and 486 to the point with an elevation of 438, thence follows the red line on the map attached to the Agreement to marker point No. 52. This marker point is situated at the point with an elevation of 392, about 1.10 km north-northwest of the point with an elevation of 389 in the Vietnamese territory, about 1.65 km southeast of the point with an elevation of 356 in the Chinese territory, and about 2.70 km south-southwest of the point with an elevation of 408 in the Chinese territory.

From marker point No. 52, the borderline follows a mountain crest in the general direction of east to southeast to northeast, passes through the points with elevations of 396, 402, 351, 361, 494, 476, 387, 432, 444, 389, 488, 480 and 347 to marker point No. 53. This marker point is situated at the point with an elevation of 248, about 1.00 km north-northwest of the point with an elevation of 313 in the Vietnamese territory, about 0.75 km south-southwest of the point with an elevation of 331 in the Chinese territory, and about 1.05 km east-southeast of the point with an elevation of 328 in the Chinese territory.

From marker point No. 53, the borderline follows a mountain crest in the general direction of southeast to southwest, passes through the points with elevations of 401, 398, 409, 498, 509, 425, 456, 404, 475, 502, 721, 704, 939 and 1282 to the point with an elevation of 1358, thence continues to follow the mountain crest in the direction of south to southeast, passes through the points with elevations of 851 and 541 to marker point No. 54. This marker point is situated about 1.70 km east of the point with an elevation of 632 in the Vietnamese territory, about 1.40 km point with an elevation of 473 in the Vietnamese territory, and about 1.50 km south of the point with an elevation of 545 in the Chinese territory.

From marker point No. 54, the borderline follows the red line on the map attached to the Agreement in the general east-southeasterly direction, passes through the points with elevations of 370, 344, 366 and 337 to the point with an elevation of 435, thence follows a mountain crest in the general southeasterly direction, passes through the points with elevations of 401, 440, 351, 438, 470, 612, 640, 651, 534 and 525 to marker point No. 55. This marker point is situated at the point with an elevation of 523, about 1.80 km southeast of the point with an elevation of 551 in the Vietnamese territory, about 0.95 km north of the point with an elevation of 480 in the Vietnamese territory, and about 1.14 km west of the point with an elevation of 528 in the Chinese territory.

From marker point No. 55, the borderline follows a mountain crest east-southeastwards, passes through the points with elevations of 506, 577 and 670 to the point with an elevation of 788, thence it goes along the watershed between the river creeks in the Vietnamese territory and the river creeks in the Chinese territory in the general direction of northeast to southeast, passes through the points with elevations of 870, 825, 894, 855, 736, 706 and 1029 to marker point No. 56. This marker point is situated at the point with an elevation of 705, about 1.80 km east of the point with an elevation of 863 in the Vietnamese territory, about 1.00 km north-northeast of the point with an elevation of 861 in the Vietnamese territory, and about 2.20 km west-southwest of the point with an elevation of 913 in the Chinese territory.

From marker point No. 56, the borderline follows the watershed between the river creeks in the Vietnamese territory and the river creeks in the Chinese territory in the general northeasterly direction, passes through the points with elevations of 652, 975, 875, 835, 1150 and 1082 to marker point No. 57. This marker point is situated at the point with an elevation of 882, about 3.55 km northeast of the point with an elevation of 638 in the Vietnamese territory, about 1.95 km south-southwest of the point with an elevation of 1265 in the Chinese territory, and about 2.20 km west-southwest of the point with an elevation of 1025 in the Chinese territory.

From marker point No. 57, the borderline goes along a mountain crest southwestwards to the point adjoining a ravine, thence follows the ravine south-southeastwards to the middle of Tai Van stream, thence goes downstream this stream and its lower section being Na Sa stream to marker point No. 58. This marker point is situated at the confluence between Na Sa stream and an eastern river creek, about 0.95 km east of the point with an elevation of 423 in the Vietnamese territory, about 0.75 km south of the point with an elevation of 447 in the Vietnamese territory, and about 2.45 km west of the point with an elevation of 320 in the Chinese territory.

From marker point No. 58, the borderline goes upstream the above-mentioned eastern river creek to Dong Mo river junction, thence goes upstream Dong Mo, Bi Lao and Cao Lan rivers to marker point No. 59. This marker point is situated at the confluence between Co Lan and Phai Lau streams, about 2.10 km north of the point with an elevation of 1052 in the Vietnamese territory, about 0.57 km east of the point with an elevation of 600 in the Vietnamese territory, and about 1.00 km west of the point with an elevation of 602 in the Chinese territory.

From marker point No. 59, the borderline goes upstream Cao Lan stream southeastwards, thence leaves the stream, follows a straight line east-southeastwards to an unnamed mountain summit north of the point with an elevation of 960 in the Vietnamese territory, thence follows the red line on the map attached to the Agreement to marker point No. 60. This marker point is situated at the point with an elevation of 1100, about 2.10 km north-northwest of the point with an elevation of 1156 in the Vietnamese territory, about 2.65 km southwest the point with an elevation of 683 in the Chinese territory, and about 0.95 km south-southwest of the point with an elevation of 1094 in the Chinese territory.

From marker point No. 60, the borderline follows a small mountain crest northeastwards, goes down a ravine, thence follows the ravine in the general direction of northeast to east-southeast to an upstream creek of Ka Long river, thence goes downstream this river east-northeastwards to marker point No. 61. This marker point is situated at the confluence between Ka Long river and another river (Bac Luan), about 2.20 km northeast of the point with an elevation of 561 in the Vietnamese territory, about 0.95 km northwest of the point with an elevation of 117 in the Vietnamese territory, and about 1.60 km south-southwest of the point with an elevation of 224 in the Chinese territory.

From marker point No. 61, the borderline goes downstream along the median of the principal navigable channel of Ka Long and Bac Luan river, to its end, joins up with marker point No. 62. This marker point is the point adjoining the baseline used for calculation of the widths of the territorial waters of Vietnam and China.

The banks and shoals lying on both sides of the red line of the river and stream border sections on the map attached to the Agreement have been managed according to the red line.

The land borderline between the two countries described in this Article is drawn in a red line on 1/50,000-scale maps jointly determined by the two sides, the length and acreage used to describe the borderline are measured from these maps. The above-said map set attached to this Agreement constitutes an integral part of the Agreement.

Article III. The two signatories have agreed that the precise position of the juncture of the borderlines of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, the People�s Republic of China and the People�s Democratic Republic of Laos shall be determined by the three countries through negotiations.

Article IV. The vertical plane running along the land borderline between Vietnam and China mentioned in Article II of this Agreement shall demarcate the airspace and subsoil between the two countries.

Article V. The two signatories have agreed, unless otherwise clearly prescribed by this Agreement, that the Vietnam-China borderline mentioned in Article II, for those river and stream border sections, in those non-navigable river or stream sections, the borderline shall follow the median of the course or principal course; in those navigable river or stream sections, the borderline shall follow the median of the principal navigable channel. The precise position of the median of the course, the principal course or the median of the principal navigable channel, and the management of banks and shoals on border rivers and streams shall be concretely determined by the two signatories when demarcating and placing border markers.

The primary criterion for determining the principal course is the water flow at the average water level. The primary criterion for determining the principal navigable channel is the depth of the navigable channel in combination with the width and the radius of the arc of the navigable channel for general consideration. The median of the principal navigable channel is the median of the water surface between the two corresponding isobaths marking the principal navigable channel.

Any possible change in border rivers and streams shall neither divert the direction of the borderline nor affect the position of the Vietnam-China borderline already determined on the terrain as well as the management of banks and shoals, unless otherwise agreed upon by the two signatories. Banks and/or shoals that newly emerge on border rivers and streams after the borderline has been identified on the terrain shall be demarcated according to the borderline already determined on the terrain. If the newly-emerging banks and/or shoals lie on the borderline already determined on the terrain, the two signatories shall discuss and determine the management thereof on a basis of fairness and rationality.

Article VI

1. The two signatories have decided to set up a Joint Committee for demarcation and placing of markers of the Vietnam-China land border (hereinafter called the Joint Committee for demarcation and placing of border markers) and assigned it the tasks of determining on the terrain the Vietnam-China borderline as stated in Article II of this Agreement and carrying out the demarcation and placing of border markers, specifically determining the precise positions of mountain crests, watersheds, medians of courses or principal courses, medians of principal navigable channels and other border sections, clearly determining the management of banks and shoals on border rivers and streams, together placing border markers, compiling a protocol on the land border between the two countries, including detailed dossiers of the positions of border markers, drawing detailed maps to be enclosed with the protocol reflecting the course of the borderline and the positions of border markers along the entire line, as well as settling particular matters related to the accomplishment of the above-mentioned tasks.

2. Immediately after taking effect, the protocol on the land border between the two countries mentioned in Clause 1 of this Article shall become part of this Agreement and the detailed maps therewith shall replace those attached to this Agreement.

3. The Joint Committee for demarcation and placing of border markers shall start their work as soon as this Agreement comes into force and terminate its operation after the protocol and the detailed maps on the land border between the two countries attached therewith are signed.

Article VII. After the protocol and the detailed maps on the land border between the two countries attached therewith take effect, the two signatories shall sign a treaty or an agreement on the regulations on the management of the border between the two countries in replacement of the November 7, 1991 provisional agreement on the settlement of affairs in the border areas between the Government of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam and the Government of the People�s Republic of China.

Article VIII . This Agreement has been ratified by the two signatories and takes effect as from the date of exchange of ratification documents. The ratification documents shall be exchanged in Beijing.

This Agreement was signed in Hanoi on December 12, 1999 and made in two copies, one copy in Vietnamese and the other in Chinese, both of them are of equal validity.-

The plenipotentiary representative of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam

The plenipotentiary representative of the People�s Republic of China