In 2002 we continued to staunchly implement the general guidelines of ?Neighboring Friendliness and Stability? of the Central Committee of CPC, actively promoted the carrying-out of the policy of ?Enriching the People in Border Areas?, and strived to create and maintain a sound-neighboring environment. We have made great progress in every field of work. China and Tajikistan signed the ?Complementary Agreement between the People?s Republic of China and the Republic of Tajikistan on the China-Tajikistan Boundary?, symbolizing the final and complete solution of all the boundary issues with neighboring countries in central Asia handed down from history. What?s more, ?Protocol on the Tri-junction of the Boundary between and among the People?s Republic of China, North Korea and the Russian Federation? was signed; the ?Agreement on Cooperation in Using and Protecting the Boundary Rivers between the People?s Republic of China and the Republic of Kazakhstan?, and the ?Agreement on the Boundary Ports and their Management Regulations between the Government of the People?s Republic of China and the Government of the Democratic People?s Republic of Korea? took into effect; the boundary demarcation between China and Kazakhstan was completed; the boundary demarcation between China and Kirgizstan and between China and Vietnam went basically smooth; the second joint inspection of the boundary between China and Mongolia excessively completed this year?s task. All the above-mentioned work further strengthened and developed the friendly and cooperative relations with neighboring countries, maintained a sound neighboring environment and promoted the stability and the development of border trade in the border areas of our country.

1. Complementary Agreement on China-Tajikistan Boundary

On May 17th, 2002, Chinese president Jiang Zemin and Tajikistani president Rakhmonov cosigned the ?Complementary Agreement between the People?s Republic of China and the Republic of Tajikistan on the China-Tajikistan Boundary?, symbolizing the final and complete solution of the China-Tajikistan boundary question.

2. Tri-junction of the Boundary between and among China, Laos and Vietnam

In February 2002, China, Laos and Vietnam held consultations on the tri-junction of the boundary between and among the People?s Republic of China and the Lao People?s Democratic Republic and the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.

3. Complementary Protocol on Alignment of the Eastern Section of China-Russian Boundary

On June 20 2002, Wang Guangya, Chinese Deputy Foreign Minister and Goncharov, charge de affaires of Russian Embassy in China, cosigned in Beijing the ?Complementary Protocol between the Government of the People?s Republic of China and the Government of the Russian Federation on the Alignment of the Eastern Section of the China-Russian Boundary?.

4. Protocol on Tri-junction of the Boundary between and among China, North Korea and Russia in the Tumen River

On June 20, 2002, Wang Guangya, Chinese deputy foreign minister and North Korean ambassador to china Choi Jinsu, and Goncharov, charge de affaires of Russian Embassy in China, jointly signed in Beijing the ?the Protocol among the Government of the People?s Republic of China, the Government of the Democratic People?s Republic of Korea and the Government of the Russian Federation on the Tri-junction of the Boundary between and among the Three Countries in the Tumen River?.

5. China-Vietnam Boundary Demarcation

In 2002, China and Vietnam held a chief-representative meeting and three expert?s meetings, and reached agreement on some technical documents and other matters concerned. From July to September 2002, China and Vietnam also held 4 boundary monument-erecting ceremonies at 4 pairs of border ports between China and Vietnam, namely Hekou-Laocai, Tianbao-Thanhthuy, Jinshuihe-Maluthang and Shuikou-Talung. Until November 2002, all 12 demarcation groups have gone in succession into the bounder areas to carry out their work along the boundary and have made some progress.

6. Protocol on China-Kazakhstan Boundary Demarcation

On May 10,2002, Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan and Kazakhstani foreign minister Tokayev cosigned in Beijing the ?Protocol Between the Government of the People?s Republic of China and the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan on the China-Kazakhstan Boundary Demarcation?, symbolizing the complete conclusion of the China-Kazakhstan boundary demarcation.

7. Protocol on China-Kirghiz Boundary Demarcation

In 2002, the China-Kirghiz boundary demarcation went smoothly ahead. We held 3 meetings of the Joint Demarcation Committee and one expert?s meeting with the Kirghiz side, checked and accepted the field demarcation results in 2002, and begun to draft the ?Protocol Between the Government of the People?s Republic of China and the Government of the Kirghiz Republic on the China-Kirghiz Boundary Demarcation?. At present, the field boundary erection work is almost finished and the mapping is advancing in perfect order.

8. Agreement on Cooperation in Using and Protecting China-Kazakhstan Trans-Boundary Rivers

On September 12, 2002, China and Kazakhstan cosigned the ?Agreement between the Government of the People?s Republic of China and the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan on Cooperation in Using and Protecting the Trans-Boundary Rivers?. On September 23, 2002, the Agreement came into force. In accordance with the Agreement the two contracting parties shall establish the Joint Committee on Trans-boundary Rivers, formulate work regulations of the joint committee and solve matters concerned in implementing the Agreement. At present both parties are making preparations for the establishment of the joint committee.

9. Second Joint Inspection of China-Mongolia Boundary

The year 2002 was the first year to carry out the fieldwork of the second joint inspection of the China-Mongolia boundary. The work advanced very smoothly. The two parties have replaced and erected 955 boundary monuments in all, which accounts for 60% of the total number of monuments to be replaced and erected. The two parties held 2 plenary meetings of the joint inspection committee and 2 expert?s meetings, signed the legal documents necessary for the inspection, checked and accepted some inspection results, and mapped out plans for the inspection work in 2003.

10. Fourth Talk on Implementation of Agreement on the Management and Cooperation in China-Myanmar Border Areas

In December 2002, China and Myanmar held the fourth talk in Yangon on the implementation of the Agreement between the Government of the People?s Republic of China and the Government of the Union of Myanmar on the Management and Cooperation in China-Myanmar Border Areas, and reached wide agreement in many fields such as strengthening the construction and management of border ports, maintaining law and order in border areas, standardizing the construction of boundary works and so on. In accordance with the agreement reached in the meeting, both parties have established the joint work group on repairing boundary monuments in December, and have held the first meeting, ready to carry out the repair work.

11. Third Meeting of the Joint Committee for Implementing the Treaty on China-Laos Boundary

In December 2002, China and Laos held in Vientiane the third meeting of the Joint Committee for Implementing the Treaty on the China-Laos Boundary, and reached agreement on repairing boundary monuments, strengthening the coordination of border ports and enhancing border management so as to effectively crack down on trans-boundary crimes. Moreover, both parties also agreed to conduct a joint field survey of part of the China-Laos boundary in the second half of the year 2003, commemorating the 10th anniversary of the signing of the ?Protocol between the Government of the People?s Republic of China and the Government of the Lao Democratic People?s Republic on the China-Laos Boundary?.

12. Agreement on Management of China-North Korea Border Ports

In November 2001, China and North Korea cosigned in Pyongyang the ?Agreement between the Government of the People?s Republic of China and the Government of the Democratic People?s Republic of Korea on the Management of Border Ports?. On May 30, 2002, the above-mentioned Agreement entered into force.

13. Agreement on Management of China-Russia Boundary

In March, June and September 2002, China and Russia held three talks in Beijing and Moscow in turn on the amending of the ?Agreement between the Government of the People?s Republic of China and the Government of the Russian Federation on the Management of the China-Russia Boundary?. The two parties have exchanged with each other the drafts of the agreement and reached agreement on most principled questions.

14. 44th Regular Meeting of the Joint Committee on the Navigation in China-Russia Trans-Boundary Rivers

From April 9th to 19th, 2002, the 44th regular meeting of the Joint Committee on the Navigation in Trans-Boundary Rivers between the People?s Republic of China and the Russian Federation was held in Beijing. Both parties summarized the navigation work in the China-Russia boundary rivers, agreed on the navigation work plans in 2002, heard some accidents, studies the measures for navigation safety and agreed upon other matters related to the work of the joint committee.