CAO BẰNG — The northern border province of Cao Bằng is building a plan for the pilot opening of the landscape site of Bản Giốc (Việt Nam) - Detian (China) Waterfalls in October 2023, local officials informed at a workshop on Tuesday.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the provincial People’s Committee held the workshop to discuss the pilot opening of the landscape site for tourism, which has been delayed due to several difficulties. Part of the waterfalls, called Bản Giốc by the Vietnamese side and Detian by the Chinese side, is located in Việt Nam while the other in China.

Deputy Foreign Minister Nguyễn Minh Vũ, head of the National Border Committee, underlined the importance of the site opening, which will help Cao Bằng tap into tourism potential to boost economic, cultural, and social development as well as cross-border exchanges.

"It is a task of not only Cao Bằng but also ministries, sectors, and central agencies to help realise Việt Nam and China’s determination to build a borderline of peace, friendship, cooperation, and development," he noted.

Hoàng Xuân Ánh, Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee, said the Vietnamese and Chinese Governments signed a cooperation agreement on protecting and exploiting tourism resources of Bản Giốc - Detian Waterfalls on November 5, 2015, and it took effect on June 16, 2016.

Cao Bằng, assigned to coordinate with ministries and central agencies to carry out the deal, 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.

However, the province has faced certain difficulties during the agreement implementation, Chairman Ánh went on.

Local officials proposed the Government, ministries, and sectors continue assisting Cao Bằng 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.

Cao Bằng is set to continue perfecting and submitting the plans and measures for the pilot operation to the Foreign Ministry so that the site can be opened on schedule. — VNS