General Secretary To Lam, Secretary of the Central Military Commission, visits, works and inspects combat readiness at the Border Guard Command_Photo: VNA

Outstanding results in recent times

Inheriting the tradition and experience of considering "people's strength as the strength of the country", "people are the root" ⁽¹⁾ in the history of building and defending the country, our Party and President Ho Chi Minh always attach importance to and promote the strength of the masses in the revolutionary cause, with profound and comprehensive thoughts and viewpoints, such as "revolution is the cause of the masses" ⁽²⁾ , "in the sky there is nothing more precious than the people" ⁽³⁾ , "the strength of the Party is the flesh and blood attachment to the people" ⁽⁴⁾ ,...

In the cause of managing and protecting the national border, our Party and State have determined that: The national border is sacred and inviolable. Managing and protecting the national border is an important and regular task of the entire Party, the entire people, the entire army, the entire political system and the entire country; it is necessary to rely on the people, take the people as the root, the people as the subject, "each border resident is a living milestone". At the same time, it is affirmed that: Building a solid "people's heart position" is the decisive factor for the victory of the cause of protecting the national border.

Over the past years, under the leadership and direction of the Central Military Commission and the Ministry of National Defense, as a core and specialized force, the Border Guard has firmly managed and protected the territorial sovereignty and national border security. At the same time, there have been many proactive, positive and creative policies and solutions in implementing movements, programs and models to help people develop socio-economy, eliminate hunger, reduce poverty, improve material and spiritual life for people; directly contributing to building a solid "people's heart position" in border areas with the following outstanding results:

Firstly, closely coordinate with central and local ministries, branches, and organizations to organize coordination programs and mobilize the strength of the whole country towards the border and islands.

In order to mobilize the combined strength of the entire political system and the whole country for the cause of border protection, the Border Guard Command has signed a coordination program with central departments, ministries, branches and organizations to carry out many activities towards the border and islands, typically, such as coordinating with the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front and the People's Army Newspaper to organize the program "Warm homes for the poor in border and island areas", up to now, more than 7,900 houses and more than 450 civil works have been donated, with a total value of over 362 billion VND; coordinating with the Military Industry and Telecommunications Group and central agencies to organize the program "Breeding cows to help the poor in the border", thereby donating nearly 30,000 breeding cows to the poor in the border areas, with a total value of over 400 billion VND; Coordinated with the Central Committee of the Vietnam Women's Union to organize the program "Accompanying women in the border areas", mobilizing social resources of more than 291 billion VND to support more than 6.5 million livestock and poultry breeds, 4.9 billion VND in loans, 850 livelihood models to help poor women develop their economy, 872 warm houses, presented over 5,000 gifts to women's union members, 7,000 scholarships to ethnic minority students in 210 border communes. In addition, coordinated with local Party committees and authorities to effectively implement the projects "Sustainable conservation and development of the La Hu ethnic group" in Muong Te district, Lai Chau province; "Sustainable conservation and development of the Dan Lai ethnic minority" in Con Cuong district, Nghe An province; "Conservation and development of the Chut ethnic group" in Rao Tre village, Huong Lien commune, Huong Khe district, Ha Tinh province.

The joint programs have mobilized the cooperation and contribution of the entire political and social system towards the border and islands; encouraged and shared difficulties with the army and people in the border areas, and worked with localities to gradually stabilize, improve and enhance the lives of the people, especially ethnic minorities. This is also an important basis to strengthen the people's trust in the Party, the State and the Army, creating a "people's heart position" to firmly protect the territorial sovereignty and national border security in the new situation.

Second, deploy movements, programs, and models throughout the force to help people develop socio-economy, eliminate hunger, reduce poverty, improve people's material and spiritual life, and build strong border areas.

With the motto "The station is home, the border is the homeland, the ethnic people are blood brothers", generations of officers and soldiers of the Border Guard have always been closely attached to the people, sharing the same fate with the ethnic people. The Border Guard Command has directed units to review and specifically assess the economic development situation of the locality. On that basis, advise, participate, and coordinate with the locality to propose policies, solutions, and effectively implement programs and projects of the State to invest in, develop the socio-economy, and build infrastructure in the border area. Actively and proactively participate in and coordinate the implementation of the Movement "The whole country joins hands to build new rural areas"; the campaign "The whole country joins hands for the poor - leaving no one behind"; the national target program for socio-economic development; Presided over the implementation of the Project "Military units and soldiers help children go to school" in the National Target Program for socio-economic development in ethnic minority and mountainous areas... Thereby, Border Guard units have helped 105 communes in border areas from weak and poor to average, 198 communes from average to good in socio-economic development; directly sponsored and helped 85 communes to meet new rural standards; 120 communes are completing the criteria and more than 9,500 households reduce poverty quickly and sustainably.

At the same time, the Border Guard directly implemented 22 movements, programs, and models to help people develop socio-economy and sustainably reduce poverty, typically:

Program "Spring Border Guard Warms the Hearts of the People": Presented 11.84 billion VND, 133 civil works, 583 "Warm Border House" houses, 375 breeding cows, 162 tons of rice, 160,999 Chung cakes, 213,633 Tet gifts to the people, 13,164 scholarships to students; organized 30 medical examinations, treatment, and free medicine distribution to the people; total value of about 200 billion VND.

Program "Helping children go to school - Adopted children of border guards": From 2016 to present, every year, we have maintained the sponsorship and support of nearly 3,000 students (including nearly 200 students from Laos and Cambodia) with the amount of 500 thousand VND/month/student; adopted nearly 400 students at border guards, the total value of the Program is about 153 billion VND. With the support and assistance of the Program, every year the rate of students dropping out of school has decreased sharply, the learning results of students in the following year are higher than the previous year; more than 800 people graduated from high school, 383 people passed the entrance exams to universities and colleges; nearly 200 people won prizes in exams at all levels.

“Green-uniformed teachers” program: Since 2010, Border Guard units have directly opened 584 literacy classes for more than 11,713 people of all ages and backgrounds; coordinated with local education departments to open 349 primary education universalization classes and charity classes for more than 8,043 poor children; mobilized more than 114,583 children to go to school; coordinated to repair thousands of classrooms; mobilized to donate tens of thousands of scholarships, school supplies, and means of transportation to school... worth billions of VND.

“Green-uniformed doctors” program: Border Guard units regularly maintain 150 military-civilian medical stations combined with more than 400 doctors and nurses to take care of soldiers’ health, examine and treat people, and provide free medicine worth tens of billions of VND to people in the border areas of our country and neighboring countries of Laos, Cambodia, etc.

Model of “Assigning Party members of Border Guard stations to be in charge of households in border areas”: Border Guard stations maintain the assignment of more than 10,000 Party members to be in charge of more than 40,000 households to grasp the situation, help, support, advise, and guide households in raising livestock and growing crops to develop the household economy. To date, Party members have directly supported and helped more than 4,500 households escape poverty; and built more than 12,000 cultural families.

Through the implementation of movements, programs and models of the Border Guard, it has contributed to gradually solving the difficult and urgent problems of the people in the border areas, especially the economic, educational and health issues. At the same time, it has built and developed a contingent of cadres who are children of ethnic minorities; improved people's knowledge, improved people's lives, strengthened the close relationship between the officers and soldiers of the Border Guard and the people in the border areas, consolidated the economic, political and spiritual potential, and a solid "people's heart position" in building a people's border defense, a people's border defense position to protect the border.

Third, closely combine consulting, participating in, and coordinating socio-economic development with building and consolidating the political system at the grassroots level, contributing to strengthening people's trust in the Party, State, Army, and Party committees and authorities at all levels; building a strong "people's heart border" .

Faced with the current difficult situation of the grassroots political system in many border areas, the Border Guard has had many policies and solutions to coordinate with local Party committees and authorities at the provincial and district levels to gradually consolidate and improve the effectiveness and efficiency of the operations of Party committees and authorities at the border commune level. The Border Guard Party Committee has signed a coordination regulation with 44 border provincial and municipal Party committees, and directed the Border Guard Party Committees of provinces and cities to sign a coordination regulation with border district-level Party committees, and border guard stations to sign a coordination regulation with border commune-level Party committees. With many new, creative ways of doing things and effective models, such as introducing nearly 700 border guard station officers to participate in the border district and commune-level Party committees for the 2020-2025 term; Regularly increase the number of cadres for border communes by more than 300 (from 1999 to present), introduce and maintain nearly 3,000 border guard station party members to participate in party cell activities in border villages and hamlets. The team of cadres and party members of border guard stations has promoted their roles and responsibilities well, together with the Party Committees of border communes, wards and towns, proposing many policies and solutions to improve the leadership capacity, fighting strength of grassroots party organizations and the quality of the team of cadres and party members. Gradually improve the quality of party cell activities and the management and operation capacity of the government and socio-political organizations at the grassroots level. From 2010 to present, 31,168 outstanding people (including 9,189 ethnic minority party members) have been discovered, trained and introduced to the Party, eliminating the situation of "no party members and party organizations" in 721 villages and hamlets.

Thereby, helping localities consolidate the political system at the grassroots level, enhance the fighting capacity of the Party organization, the effectiveness and efficiency of the management and administration of the government, act as an important bridge, bring the Party and State's policies and guidelines to the people and organize their successful implementation at the grassroots level. Timely reflect the legitimate thoughts and aspirations and strengthen the people's trust in the Party, State and Army; build the great national unity bloc, political potential, and uphold the spirit of protecting the national border.

Becoming a university student, Ho Viet Duc (born in 2006, Rao Tre village, Huong Lien commune, Huong Khe district, Ha Tinh province) received monthly support from the Border Guard of Ha Tinh province for 4 years of university through the fund "Helping you go to school"_Photo: VNA

Fourth, link the implementation of movements, programs, and models to help people develop socio-economy with border protection movements and activities of the National Border Defense Day, creating the combined strength of the entire political system and the entire population to participate in border protection.

In order to gather and promote the great strength of the people of all ethnic groups in the cause of managing and protecting the territorial sovereignty and national border security, the Party Committee and the Border Guard Command have launched a mass movement to participate in self-management of border lines, border markers and maintaining security and order in border areas, identifying this as a policy that is both urgent and has long-term strategic significance in managing and protecting the border. On January 9, 2015, the Border Guard Command consulted with the Ministry of National Defense to report to the Prime Minister to issue Directive No. 01/CT-TTg, "On organizing a mass movement to participate in protecting territorial sovereignty and national border security in the new situation". In order to effectively implement Directive No. 01/CT-TTg, the Command has directed units to actively propagate and mobilize cadres and people to raise their vigilance, clearly define their responsibilities and rights in participating in border protection. Promote the role of village elders, village chiefs, dignitaries, officials, and prestigious people in ethnic minority and religious areas and in the locality in gathering and mobilizing people to participate in border protection. Organize and guide the masses to actively participate in movements such as "self-managed border section for youth", "women for the national border", "exemplary religious community"; "Border bamboo hedge", "Border gong", "Self-managed group for order and security in villages and hamlets", "Peaceful hamlets, harmonious families", "Exemplary village elders and village chiefs", "Bright old age", etc.

Thereby, the awareness of the nation and national borders of citizens, directly and regularly cadres and people in border areas, has been significantly raised; families, clans, villages, hamlets, and border hamlets actively participate in organizing the signing of commitments to comply with border regulations and regulations on security and order. Currently, nearly 46,000 households and 115,000 people have been mobilized to register to participate in self-management of more than 90% of the border system and national border markers; more than 3,000 safe boat teams have been established, uniting to participate in protecting the sovereignty of the sea and islands; 400 safe wharf teams and 100% of border villages and hamlets have established tens of thousands of self-management teams for security and order. People have provided thousands of valuable information to serve the task of detecting, preventing, and combating violations of border regulations, all types of crimes, especially drug crimes, human trafficking, smuggling, illegal entry and exit, etc. Thereby, contributing to gathering and mobilizing the strength of the entire population, creating a "people's belt" to participate in border protection, building and consolidating the people's border defense, and a solid "people's heart position" in the border area.

At the same time, to promote the combined strength of the whole country, the whole Party, the whole people, and the rear line towards the front line to serve the task of building, managing and protecting the national border, on February 22, 1989, the Council of Ministers (now the Government) issued Decision No. 16/HDBT on organizing the implementation of "Border Guard Day". In order to concretize that task, the Border Guard Command coordinated with the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front to direct localities to effectively organize activities of the National Border Guard Day at the grassroots level, with the content including 2 parts (ceremony and festival). In which, the ceremony focuses on evaluating the results and praising and rewarding outstanding collectives and individuals in implementing the movement of the whole people participating in managing and protecting the national border; the festival part organizes exciting traditional cultural and sports activities, associated with the customs and practices of each ethnic group and each locality; free medical examination and medicine for the people; Organizing “0” booths…, creating a joyful and exciting atmosphere, becoming a festival not only for ethnic minorities in border areas, but also for people across the country; contributing to raising awareness and responsibility of Party committees, authorities, the Vietnam Fatherland Front, socio-political organizations, cadres, party members, union members, members and soldiers of the armed forces for the task of protecting the border.

In addition, the Party Committee and the Border Guard Command have effectively implemented people-to-people diplomacy. Local staff have well organized the Movement of "Twinning residential clusters on both sides of the border". Strengthening the relationship between the authorities and people on both sides of the border, creating conditions for trade, exchange of goods, economic development; building a peaceful, friendly, stable, cooperative and developing border with neighboring countries, contributing to the successful implementation of the foreign policy of the Party and State.

Thus, the movements, programs and models to help people develop socio-economy have really brought about results and effectiveness, showing the gratitude of the Border Guard officers and soldiers to the ethnic people in the border areas; joining hands and contributing efforts with the Party committees and local authorities in border areas to eradicate hunger and sustainably reduce poverty, effectively implement the programs and goals of socio-economic development in the localities, raise people's knowledge, improve people's lives; build increasingly stable and developed border areas.

Some breakthrough solutions to build a "people's hearts" position in border areas in the era of national growth

In the coming years, the situation on the border, sea and island routes is forecast to remain complicated and unpredictable; hostile and reactionary forces continue to take advantage of ethnic, religious, border, sea and island issues to sabotage our country's revolution; non-traditional security issues pose many challenges, negatively impacting social life, military, defense and security tasks, and the cause of building, managing and protecting territorial sovereignty, national border security, and building strong border areas... To continue to strengthen and consolidate a strong "people's hearts" in the border areas, contributing to bringing our country steadily into a new era, an era of national growth, the Border Guard has determined that it is necessary to focus on implementing well the following basic tasks and solutions:

Firstly, continue to advise on and successfully implement the Party's guidelines and policies, the State's policies and laws on national defense, security and border protection tasks. The focus is on thoroughly grasping and effectively implementing the "National Border Protection Strategy", the Vietnam Border Law, the Project "Building a national border defense, a national border defense posture in a national defense, a national defense posture associated with people's security, a people's security posture in border areas", contributing to building a strong border area.

Second, strengthen coordination with local Party committees, authorities, sectors and forces to further improve the quality of propaganda and mobilization work for the people, in order to help the masses more fully perceive the position, significance and importance of the task of building, managing and protecting the national border, building a "people's heart position", a strong all-people border defense in the border area so that every border resident upholds the responsibility of "every border resident is a living milestone".

Third, actively and proactively advise, participate in building, consolidating and improving the quality of activities of the grassroots political system in strong border areas, meeting the requirements of leadership and direction in the new situation. Continue to increase the number of cadres for border communes, introduce Party members of Border Guard stations to participate in activities at village and hamlet Party cells and take charge of households in border areas. Maintain and well implement the coordination regulations between the Border Guard Party Committee and local border Party Committees at all levels; especially implementing Conclusion No. 68-KL/TW of the Secretariat, "On the policy of increasing the number of Party Committee members who are Border Guard station cadres participating in district and commune-level border and island Party Committees for the 2025-2030 term".

Fourth, actively advise, participate in building and implementing projects and programs for socio-economic development, hunger eradication and poverty reduction; closely coordinate with ministries, branches and central organizations to organize activities towards borders and islands; maintain and expand programs and models to help people develop socio-economic development of the Border Guard in border areas that have been affirmed, with the motto "sincerity, substance, responsibility, efficiency", contributing to improving the material and spiritual life of people in border areas, firmly consolidating people's trust in the Party, State, Army and Border Guard.

Fifth, Party committees and commanders of units proactively advise Party committees and authorities, coordinate with the Vietnam Fatherland Front and local organizations to thoroughly grasp and effectively implement the movement of the entire people participating in protecting territorial sovereignty and national border security in the new situation, in conjunction with organizing diverse and practical "People's Border Defense Day" activities, creating a joyful and united atmosphere among the people,... promoting the strength of "people's hearts", the entire people's border defense in managing and protecting territorial sovereignty and national border security right from the grassroots level. The focus is on organizing a summary of 10 years of implementing Directive No. 01/CT-TTg.

Effectively organizing movements, programs and models to help people develop socio-economy will actively contribute, together with all levels, sectors, Party committees and local authorities, to building economic, political, cultural and social potential; improving the material and spiritual life of people in border areas; consolidating and strengthening national defense, security and foreign affairs; strengthening people's trust in the Party, State, Army and Border Guard; mobilizing the great strength of the great national unity bloc, building a solid all-people border defense, a solid "people's heart position" in border areas, building a peaceful, friendly, stable, cooperative and developing border./.

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(1) Documents of the 12th National Congress of Delegates , Central Party Office, Hanoi, 2016, p. 69
(2) Ho Chi Minh: Complete Works , National Political Publishing House Truth, Hanoi, 2001, vol. 12, p. 672
(3) Ho Chi Minh: Complete Works , op. cit. , vol. 10, p. 453
(4) Pham Van Tho - Vu Hung: The relationship between the Party and the people in Ho Chi Minh's thought , National Political Publishing House, Hanoi, 1997, p. 6

Source: https://tapchicongsan.org.vn/web/guest/quoc-phong-an-ninh-oi-ngoai1/-/2018/1071602/bo-doi-bien-phong-voi-cac-giai-phap-dot-pha-de-xay-dung-%E2%80%9Cthe-tran-long-dan%E2%80%9D-khu-vuc-bien-gioi-trong-ky-nguyen-vuon-minh-cua-dan-toc.aspx