Delegates attend the meeting

Cao Bang’s delegates attending the meeting included Secretary of Cao Bang Provincial Party Committee Tran Hong Minh; Chairman of Cao Bang provincial People’s Committee Hoang Xuan Anh - Head of the Provincial Coordination Committee for the implementation of the Agreement on Cooperation in Protection and Exploitation of Tourism Resources of Ban Gioc (Vietnam) - Detian (China) Waterfall; members of the Standing Committee of the Provincial Party Committee and the Standing Committee of the Provincial People's Committee; leaders of departments, agencies, sectors and districts of Trung Khanh, Ha Lang, Cao Bang city.

Deputy Foreign Minister Nguyen Minh Vu - Head of the National Border Committee, underlined the importance of the site opening, which will help Cao Bang tap into tourism potential to boost economic, cultural, and social development as well as cross-border exchanges. He also noted that it is a task of not only Cao Bang but also ministries, sectors, and central agencies to help realize Vietnam and China’s determination to build a borderline of peace, friendship, cooperation, and development.

Deputy Foreign Minister Nguyen Minh Vu - Head of the National Border Committee, addresses the workshop

The Agreement on Cooperation in Protection and Exploitation of Tourism Resources of Ban Gioc - Detian Waterfall was signed by the Governments of the two countries on November 5, 2015 and officially took effect from June 16, 2016. Cao Bang, assigned to coordinate with ministries and central agencies to carry out the Agreement, has conducted surveys and held several talks with authorities of China’s Guangxi province. The two sides agreed on plans for creating border crossings, building border checkpoints and barriers, and managing and operating the landscape site to serve tourists from both sides on a trial basis.

Cao Bang is building a plan for the pilot opening of the landscape site of Ban Gioc (Vietnam) - Detian (China) Waterfalls. For effective implementation of the plan, Cao Bang proposed the Government, ministries, and sectors continue assisting Cao Bang in such fields as discussing with the Chinese side about border management and construction of border facilities, managing visitors to the landscape site, and completing specific mechanisms for the deal enforcement.

Secretary of Cao Bang Provincial Party Committee Tran Hong Minh speaks at the meeting

Secretary of Cao Bang Provincial Party Committee Tran Hong Minh affirmed that the potential and strength of tourism and service development in Cao Bang province was identified by the 19th Provincial Party Congress as one of the three key goals of the term. Cao Bang with many historical sites and scenic spots, notably Ban Gioc waterfall - a national scenic spot is a great advantage. Ban Gioc Waterfall is the core and unique area of Non Nuoc Cao Bang Global Geopark recognized by UNESCO in April 2018. The pilot opening of the landscape site of Ban Gioc - Detian Waterfalls is extremely important to realize the common perception of the two countries' senior leaders in the Vietnam - China Joint Statement at the visit to China by General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong from October 30th to November 1st 2022. The pilot opening of the landscape site helps Cao Bang province promote its strengths and tourism potential for economic development, strengthen economic, cultural and social cooperation and exchange in the border region between Vietnam and China.

Representative of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism speaks at the Workshop 

At the workshop, representatives of Cao Bang province and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs discussed the results of implementation over the past time, orientation and plan for the pilot opening of the landscape site in the upcoming time. Representatives of relevant ministries and sectors, and experts and scholars discussed and focused on some of the following contents: plan/roadmap for the pilot opening of the landscape site, management and protection during the pilot opening period, scope of pilot in the landscape site, tourism products, tours, etc. They also had extensive exchanges and provided practical, feasible and highly specialized solutions. This result would be an important basis for Cao Bang province to remove difficulties in order to soon put the landscape into pilot operation.

Chairman of Cao Bang provincial People’s Committee speaks at the meeting

Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Hoang Xuan Anh, in his closing remark, appreciated the delegates’ discussions and recommendations which would be the basis for Cao Bang province and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to complete the plan for the pilot opening of the landscape site of Ban Gioc - Detian Waterfalls. After the workshop, the Provincial People's Committee would develop a plan for the pilot opening of the landscape site of Ban Gioc (Vietnam) - Detian (China) Waterfalls as soon as possible. The province would also review and redefine the scope of the landscape site; pay attention to infrastructure investment; develop more tourism products; complete the structure of the management board of the tourist area. For the issues of visitor management, security, social order and environment, the province would have detailed and specific plan for the pilot opening of the landscape site, contributing to the province's socio-economic development and the protection of national sovereignty and border security.