China and Vietnam are speeding up talks on the demarcation of the Beibu Gulf, said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Sun Yuxi Tuesday at a regular press conference.

The two countries will try to solve the demarcation of the Gulf within this year, Sun said.

He told reporters that since the normalization of the relations between China and Vietnam in 1991, the two sides have engaged in peaceful talks to solve their border problems.

The two countries officially signed a land border treaty on December 30 1999, Sun said.

He added that the two sides agreed to keep the talks mechanism concerning the Gulf, in order to maintain the peace and stability in the area.

(People’s Daily 09/26/2000)