Experts from Vietnam and China discussed the sea area off the Tonkin Gulf during the second expert-level negotiation round in Beijing from Sept. 26-27.

In a friendly, frank and constructive atmosphere, both parties affirmed their resolve to make efforts to push up negotiations on the basis of the principles defined in the “Agreement on the basis principles guiding the settlement of sea-related issues between Vietnam and China” signed last October and accelerate the demarcation of the sea area beyond the mouth of the Tonkin Gulf, and discussed cooperation measures for joint development in the area.

The two sides agreed that the guiding principles for the demarcation of the area are based on international law, especially the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea and related international reality.

They also reached an agreement to organise the third round of the negotiations in the first half of 2013 in Vietnam.