Strengthening border protection cooperation, strengthening Vietnam

Attending the meeting were Colonel Nguyen Dinh Huan, Commander of the Son La Provincial Border Guard and Major General Khammuong Khotvongkhun, Commander of the Huaphanh Provincial Military Command.

At the meeting, Colonel Nguyen Dinh Huan proposed to continue to strengthen exchanges and information sharing, maintain bilateral patrols, and coordinate to maintain political security and order in border areas. The Lao side agreed and proposed to step up legal dissemination and raise awareness of border protection among people in border areas between the two countries. In addition, it is also necessary to maintain people-to-people exchanges such as cultural and sports activities to strengthen the connection and cooperation between Son La and Huaphanh provinces.

Thiếu tướng Khammuong Khotvongkhun Chỉ huy trưởng Bộ Chỉ huy Quân sự tỉnh Huaphanh phát biểu tại hội đàm.

Major General Khammuong Khotvongkhun, Commander of Huaphanh Provincial Military Command, speaks at the meeting. (Photo: Nhan Dan Newspaper).

Son La and Huaphanh are two border provinces of Vietnam and Laos. In recent times, the two sides have maintained the tradition of special solidarity between Vietnam and Laos, regularly exchanged and coordinated border management and protection; strictly implemented agreements, and promptly handled arising incidents.

From the third quarter of 2024 to present, the two sides have conducted 21 bilateral patrols with the participation of 470 officers and soldiers.

In the fight against crime, the Son La Provincial Border Guard handled 58 cases and arrested 71 subjects. The seized exhibits included: 8 cakes and 111.22g of heroin; 683,013 synthetic drug pills; 2.001kg of crystal meth; 1kg of ketamine; 971.36g of opium resin; 432kg of firecrackers; 1 gun, 1 bullet; 360g of gunpowder; along with 3 cars, 18 motorbikes, 29 mobile phones and 110.84 million VND in cash.

In addition, Son La Border Guard forces coordinated with Lao authorities to arrest 6 cases involving 7 subjects, seizing 5g of heroin, 4,878 synthetic drug pills, 1 motorbike and 2 mobile phones.

Immigration control was strictly implemented. Authorities completed procedures for 38,385 entries and 38,608 exits; border areas alone had 34,814 entries and 30,332 exits, along with many types of goods passing through.

Ban Chỉ huy Bộ đội Biên phòng tỉnh Sơn La và Bộ Chỉ huy Quân sự tỉnh Huaphanh ký kết biên bản ghi nhớ.

The Son La Provincial Border Guard Command and the Huaphanh Provincial Military Command signed a memorandum of understanding. (Photo: Nhan Dan Newspaper).

Exchange and friendly cooperation activities between the two sides are maintained regularly during holidays and Tet. In addition, the Son La Provincial Border Guard continues to implement the program "Helping children go to school", supporting 500,000 VND per month for 12 Lao students in difficult circumstances.

At the end of the talks, the two sides agreed on eight key contents that need to be coordinated in the coming time and signed a memorandum of understanding as a basis for implementation.

Son La Border Guard is assigned to manage and protect more than 274km of national border, adjacent to the two provinces of Huaphanh and Luang Prabang (Lao PDR), in the districts of Sop Cop, Song Ma, Mai Son, Yen Chau, Moc Chau and Van Ho.

Up to now, the provincial Border Guard force has established a twinning relationship between 10 Vietnamese border posts and 3 Lao border guard companies. At the same time, it has advised on organizing twinning between 7 pairs of villages in the border areas of the two countries. These activities have contributed to strengthening the solidarity and friendship between the border guards and the people of both sides, towards building a peaceful, cooperative and developed border.

Source: https://thoidai.com.vn/tang-cuong-hop-tac-bao-ve-bien-gioi-gan-ket-tinh-huu-nghi-viet-lao-215529.html