Supplementary Agreement between the People 's Republic of China and the Russian Federation on the Eastern Section of the Sino-Russian Border

• Country/entity

  China
  Russia
  
• Region

  Asia and Pacific
  Europe and Eurasia
  
• Agreement name

  Supplementary Agreement between the People 's Republic of China and the Russian Federation on the Eastern Section of the Sino-Russian Border
• Date

  14 Oct 2004
• Agreement status

  Multiparty signed/agreed
• Interim arrangement

  Yes
• Agreement/conflict level

  Interstate/interstate conflict ( Sino-Soviet Border Conflict (1969 - 1991) )
• Stage

  Framework/substantive - partial
• Conflict nature

  Territory
• Peace process

  China-Russia border dispute peace process
• Parties

  Russian Federation Representative Sergey Viktorovich Lavrov [Signature]
  People’s Republic of China Representative Li Zhaoxing [Signature]
• Third parties

  -
• Description

  Supplementary Agreement to the 1991 Border agreement, clarifying the border between points 7 and 8, and 10 and 11 on the Eastern Sector.

• Agreement document

  CN_RU_041014_Supplementary Agreement on the Eastern Section_EN.pdf | Download PDF
• Agreement document (original language)

  CN_RU_040101_Supplementary Agreement on the Eastern Section_CN.pdf | Download PDF

Groups

Gender

State definition

Governance

Power sharing

Human rights and equality

Rights related issues

Rights institutions

Justice sector reform

Socio-economic reconstruction

Land, property and environment

Security sector

Transitional justice

Implementation

Supplementary Agreement between the People’s Republic of China and the Russian Federation on the Eastern Section of the Sino-Russian Border

The People’s Republic of China and the Russian Federation (from here on referred to as “the Contracting Parties”) according to the 16 May 1991 Standing Committee for the National People’s Congress of the People's Republic of China and the Supreme Soviet of the Russian Federation approved the Agreement between the People’s Republic of China and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) on the Eastern Section of the Sino-Russian Border.

In order to clarify and confirm that they have reached a consistent agreement for the boundary line along two parts of the Sino-Russian border, the sections running from the seventh (7th) to the eight (8th) [point] and the tenth (10th) to the eleventh (11th) point on the border, the agreement reached is as follows:

First Clause:

The direction for the area of the Sino-Russian border running between points 7 and 8, from what is stated in clause number 2 of the 16 May 1991 Agreement between the People’s Republic of China and the Union of Socialist Republics on the Eastern Section of the Sino-Russian Border, is as follows:

Starting from the point 7, the border which roughly traces southward along the centreline of the Hailar River (listed as the ‘Prova River’ on the former-USSR map) heading south to south east up to the point of intersect between the Hailar River’s water flow or main stream centreline and that of an unnamed river’s water flow or main stream centreline (listed as the ‘Argun River’ on the former-USSR map).

Later it heads roughly north to northeast along the unnamed river’s water flow or main stream centreline (listed as the ‘Argun River’ on the former-USSR map) down to point 7.1.

This section is at the centre of the water flow or main stream of the unnamed river (listed as the ‘Argun River’ on the former-USSR map);

the rectangular coordinates are:

approximately X = 5,490,500, Y = 20,564,000.

Starting from point 7.1, the border heads in a straight line directly north, crossing Abagaitu islet (‘Bolshoi Island’ on the former-USSR map) down to point 7.2.

This point is at the centreline of the water flow or main stream of the Argun River (the ‘Prova River’ on the former-USSR map).

The rectangular coordinates are approximately X= 5,496,160, Y= 20,564,380.

Starting from point 7.2, the border follows the water flow or main stream of the Argun River (‘Prova River’ on the former-USSR map), roughly northwards heading north east up to point 8.

The direction of the area running between section 10 and 11 of the Sino-Russian border, from that which is stated in clause number 2 of the 16 May 1991 Agreement between the People’s Republic of China and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics on the Eastern Section of the Sino-Russian Border, is as follows:

Starting from point 10, the border follows the main channel of the Heilongjiang River (‘Amur River’ on the former-USSR map) heading roughly north up to point 10.1.

This point of the border is at the point of intersection between the main channel’s centreline of the Heilongjiang River (‘Amur River’ on the former-USSR map) and that which is regarded as the vertical line of the shoreline.

Starting from point 10.1, the national border line runs south along the above-mentioned vertical line, up to point 10.2.

This point is on Heixiazi Island (‘Bolshoi Ussuriisk Island’ on the former-USSR map).

The rectangular coordinates for this point are:

approximately X= 5,358,650, Y= 23,482,570.

Starting from point 10.2, the national border line at Heixiazi Island (‘Bolshoi Ussurissk Island’ on the former-USSR map) heads in a straight line going south to south east up to point 10.3.

The rectangular coordinates for this point are:

approximately X= 5,358,300.

Y= 23, 482, 740.

Starting from point 10.3, the national border line at Heixiazi Island (‘Bolshoi Ussurissk Island’ on the former-USSR map) heads in a straight line going south to south west, up to point 10.4.

The rectangular coordinates for this point are:

approximately X= 5,349,820.

Y= 23,479,010.

The Above-mentioned Sino-Russian border is marked onto a 1:100,000 scale map of China and the Russian Federation using a red line.

They used a coordinates system of equal value to the map to measure and select the boundary.

The above-mentioned map which uses a red line to mark the Sino-Russian border has been added to this supplementary agreement and is viewed as an inseparable part of it.

Second Clause:

In order to determine the border line which is described in the first clause of this supplementary agreement, the Contracting Parties decided, on the basis of equity, to establish a united Boundary Demarcation Committee and also to give said Committee the task of marking out the border to determine the exact position of the centreline of the main channel of the boundary river, the centreline of the river, or of the main stream.

Also according to this supplementary agreement’s third clause, to determine the ownership of the islands and islets in the rivers, to erect landmarks, draw up border demarcation documents, draw detailed border maps, and to resolve and complete the various specific issues related to the above-mentioned task.

Third Clause

The Contracting Parties agree that the navigable part of the river of the border line, as described in this supplementary agreement’s first clause, runs along the centreline of the main channel.

The non-navigable part of the river runs along the centreline of the water flow or main stream.

The exact position of the main channel and what is regarded as the centreline of the border’s main channel, the river or the main stream’s centreline and the rivers islands and islets whose ownership is divided in view of the above, will be specifically defined during the time in which Sino-Russian border is being demarcated.

The main basis for determining the main channel is the depth of water combined with the main channel’s width, the radius of curvature should also be taken into consideration.

The centreline of the main channel is indicated by the centreline of the water surface in between the main channel’s two corresponding isobaths.

The basis for determining the main stream is the rate of flow at the mid-water level.

Fourth Clause

The Contracting Parties agree, that the Sino-Russian border demarcated on the ground should also be equally divided vertically into the sky and the subsoil.

Fifth Clause

Unless the Contracting Parties reach another agreement, any natural changes that may occur in the area of the border do not affect the position of the Sino-Russian border that is described in Article 1 of this supplementary agreement and the related islands and islets.

After the border line of the boundary river has been demarcated, any newly emerging island or islets that may appear will be divided according to the border line.

If the new islands are on the demarcated border line, the Contracting Parties will agree on the basis of fairness who has ownership over them.

Sixth Clause

This supplementary agreement is the 16 May 1991 “Supplementary Agreement between the People’s Republic of China and the Russian Federation on the Eastern Section of the Sino-Russian Border.

Seventh Clause

This Supplementary Agreement is subject to approval, and shall take effect as of the date that the instruments of ratification are exchanged.

The instruments of ratification should be exchanged in Moscow as quickly as possible.

This Supplementary Agreement was made in duplicate on the 14 October 2004 in Beijing.

Each copy is written in both Chinese and Russian.

Both versions are equally valid.

People’s Republic of China Representative

Li Zhaoxing

[Signature]

Russian Federation Representative

Sergey Viktorovich Lavrov

[Signature]