A ceremony was jointly held by China and Vietnam in Youyiguan on Monday marking the completion of land border demarcation and the erection of boundary markers, a significant event in bilateral relations.

The ceremony started at 3:30 p.m. at the Youyiguan border gate in Pingxiang City in south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, opposite to Lang Son City of Vietnam. The border gate is known as Huu Nghi Quan in Vietnam.

More than 800 people from both countries, including government officials and those who attended the land border demarcation, were present at the ceremony. Chinese State Councilor Dai Bingguo, Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Wu Dawei, Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister Pham Gia Khiem and Vietnamese Deputy Foreign Minister Vu Dung were all there.

"It (the completion of land border demarcation) is a significant historic event in bilateral relations and satisfies the long-term and ardent aspirations of the two peoples," Pham said at the ceremony.

"It sends an important signal to the whole world that relations are developing soundly. The two sides should continue to cooperate closely to implement the border pact," he added.

Youyiguan, or the Friendship Gate, is one of China's key border passes. It is more than 2,000 years old and has witnessed a number of historic wars, including the fight against French invaders in 1885 after they stormed Vietnam.

China and Vietnam finished the demarcation of land borders at the end of last year.

(Xinhua News Agency February 23, 2009)