Beijing (VNA) – The Viet Nam-China Land Border Joint Committee convened its seventh session in Harbin city, the Chinese province of Heilongjiang from January 9-13.

The Vietnamese delegation was led by Deputy Chairman of the Foreign Ministry’s National Boundary Commission and the Chinese side was led by Wang Wenli, Counselor of the Department of Boundary and Ocean Affairs under the Chinese Foreign Ministry.

Both sides shared view that the committee scored outstanding achievements last year. The two countries’ border agencies and local authorities worked closely and actively to promote practical exchanges, thus facilitating stability and development in border areas.

They agreed on ways to cooperate in border management for 2017, including building embankments for bordering rivers and streams and border markers, opening and upgrading border gates, accelerating construction of transport facilities and connectivity in border areas, labour management, and effective prevention and control of trans-border crimes.

Host and guest pledged to speed up the implementation of an agreement on protecting and tapping tourism resources at Ban Gioc – Detian waterfalls and another on free navigation of boats at the mouth of the Bac Luan River, further enhance the management and protection of water resources, environment, travelling on bordering lakes and rivers, as well as prevent forest fires in border areas.

The 8th session is slated to be held in Viet Nam this year.