By Chen Yang
10月14日，中国政府代表、外交部部长助理吴江浩同不丹政府代表、外交大臣丹迪•多吉通过视频方式在北京和廷布签署《关于加快中不边界谈判“三步走”路线图的谅解备忘录》。吴江浩表示，今天签署的《备忘录》将为加快两国划界谈判、推动中不建交进程作出富有意义的贡献。
On October 14, 2021, the Chinese Government Representative and Assistant Foreign Minister Wu Jianghao and the Bhutanese Government Representative and Foreign Minister TandiDorji signed the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on a Three-Step Roadmap for Expediting the China-Bhutan Boundary Negotiation in Beijing and Thimphu via video link.Wu Jianghao said the MoU signed today will make a meaningful contribution to speeding up the negotiation on demarcation and promoting the process of establishing diplomatic ties between the two countries.
《备忘录》的签署表明两国有意推动双边关系进一步正常化。在周边邻国中，不丹是唯一没有与中国建交的国家，但两国一直保持友好交往。1971年，不丹投票赞成恢复中国在联合国的合法席位；1979年起，两国领导人每年均互致国庆贺电；1994年至今，中国历任驻印度大使均对不丹进行了工作访问，同不丹国王、外交大臣等就两国关系交换意见。此外，中不两国在国际场合保持良好合作，比如不丹在联合国人权会议上和世界卫生大会上连续支持中国挫败反华、涉台提案等。
The signing of the MoU indicates that the two countries both wish to further normalize bilateral relations. Bhutan is the only neighbor that hasn’t established diplomatic ties with China yet, but the two countries have always maintained friendly exchanges. Bhutan voted for restoring China’s legitimate seat in the UN in 1971; leaders of the two countries have sent National Day congratulations to each other every year since 1979; every Chinese ambassador to India has paid a working visit to Bhutan and exchanged views with Bhutan’s kings and foreign ministers on bilateral relations since 1994. Besides, China and Bhutan have kept sound cooperation on international occasions. For instance, Bhutan has supported China in foiling anti-China and Taiwan-related draftresolutions at the UN Human Rights Council and World Health Assembly.
清华大学国家战略研究院研究部主任钱峰认为，中不两国近年来在政府层面、民间层面实际上建立了良好关系。尽管中不两国尚未建交，但基于两国近年来的多层次友好互动，所以签署有关边界谈判的《备忘录》完全水到渠成。这也体现出中不两国有意进一步深化双边合作，为两国最终正式建交创造适宜的氛围。
Qian Feng, director of the Research Department of the National Strategy Institute, Tsinghua University, held that China and Bhutan had established a sound relationship in recent years on both the government and public levels. Although they haven’t formed diplomatic ties yet, signing the MoU on boundary negotiation is just a matter of course, given their friendly interactions in recent years on multiple levels. The signing reflects their wish to further deepen bilateral cooperation and forge diplomatic ties when circumstances permit.
《备忘录》的签署表明两国坚持通过谈判协商和平解决边界问题。中不边界长约500多公里，从未正式划定，但从1984年起，中不两国轮流在北京和不丹首都廷布举行中不边界会谈。截至2021年7月，双方共举行了24轮边界会谈以及10次边界问题专家组会议，双方共同致力于边界问题的早日解决。
The signing of the China-Bhutan MoU demonstrates the two countries’ commitment to resolving the boundary issue peacefully through negotiation and consultation. China and Bhutan have a boundary of more than 500km that’s never officially demarcated, but the two sides have been holding boundary talks alternately in Beijing and Thimphu, the capital of Bhutan, since 1984. Altogether 24rounds of ministerial-level boundary talks and 10 Expert Group Meetings(EGMs) on the China-Bhutan Boundary have been held by July 2021, as part of the mutual efforts to solve the issue at an early date.
《备忘录》的签署再次证明中国始终是周边国家的可靠朋友。钱峰认为，中国与不丹互为邻国，不论是国土面积还是经济规模，都存在巨大差距，但在边界问题上，中国既没有“以力量来改变现状”，也没有采取霸权主义。中国坚持在相互平等、相互尊重的前提下，积极与不丹进行谈判，这反映出中国外交一以贯之的理念——不论国家大小、强弱、贫富，中国都一视同仁，中国始终是周边国家的可靠朋友。
The MoU signed also proves again that China remains a reliable friend for its neighbors. According to Qian Feng, as neighbors, China and Bhutan are different in their size of territory and scale of economy, but China has neither changed the status quo by force nor adopted hegemonistic actions on the boundary issue. Instead, it has engaged in active negotiations with Bhutan in the principle of mutual equality and respect, which serves as a vivid illustration of China’s consistent diplomatic philosophy – it treats all countries, big or small, strong or weak, rich or poor, as equals, and it is always a reliable friend for surrounding countries.
中国与不丹签署《备忘录》意味着两国解决边界问题迈出了重要一步。期待双方一道落实好《备忘录》，不断推进两国划界谈判的工作进程，共同维护好边境地区和平安宁，为最终解决边界问题创造更为积极的条件。
Signing the MoU marks a significant step on the way toward the final solution of China-Bhutan boundary demarcation. We look forward to both countries implementing the MoU well, continuously advancing the demarcation negotiations, and jointly preserving peace and serenity in the border areas, so as to create more favorable conditions for the final solution of the issue.
