China-Vietnam border demarcation finished

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-02-23 16:11

YOUYIGUAN - A ceremony was jointly held by China and Vietnam here Monday marking the completion of land border demarcation and the erection of boundary markers, a significant event in bilateral relations.

The ceremony started at 3:30 p.m. at the Youyiguan border gate in Pingxiang City in south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, opposite to Lang Son City of Vietnam. The border gate is known as Huu Nghi Quan in Vietnam.

More than 100 government officials from both sides, including Chinese State Councilor Dai Bingguo, Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Wu Dawei, Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister Pham Gia Khiem and Vietnamese Deputy Foreign Minister Vu Dung, were present at the ceremony.

Youyiguan, or the Friendship Gate, is one of China's key border passes. It is more than 2,000 years old and has witnessed a number of historic wars, including the fight against French invaders in 1885 after they stormed Vietnam.

China and Vietnam finished the demarcation of land borders at the end of last year.