The units signed and exchanged the minutes of the meeting. Photo: Anh Bach

On September 11, in Xieng Khouang province, Laos, a meeting was held to coordinate the management and protection of borders, border lines, national border markers and maintain security and order in border areas between the Military Commands of the three provinces of Xieng Khouang, Hua Phan and Bolikhamxay (Laos) and the Border Guard Command of Nghe An . The meeting was an opportunity to evaluate the results of coordination in border management and protection; combat and prevent crimes in the past; and agree on the content of coordination work in the coming time.

Nghe An has a 468.281km long border, adjacent to 3 Lao provinces: Xieng Khouang, Hua Phan and Bolikhamxay. In recent years, the functional forces of the two sides have regularly coordinated to organize bilateral patrols, meet, exchange, and discuss the situation, promptly inform each other of news and situations related to territorial sovereignty and border security, thereby coordinating to promptly resolve incidents that occur.

The functional forces on both sides of the border have done a good job of propaganda, patrolling, controlling, managing, and protecting the border and national border markers. In 2022, the two sides organized 44 bilateral patrols/528 participants; 132 unilateral patrols/1,056 participants, ensuring the border, national border markers, and social order and safety in the border area are always stable.

The two sides have directed units to inspect and manage border gates in accordance with regulations, especially in immigration control, creating favorable conditions for people and vehicles to pass through border gates and border crossing points.

Nghe An Border Guard presents gifts to border protection forces of two Lao provinces. Photo: Anh Bach

The leaders of the three provinces of Xieng Khouang, Hua Phan and Bolikhamxay have directed departments, branches, border districts and border guards to regularly pay attention to, inspect and protect damaged markers and propose relevant agencies to repair them. The two sides continue to maintain the relationship between the twinned units, regularly exchange visits and visit relatives on the occasion of each country's holidays.

In 2022, the Nghe An Border Guard Command organized training on border management and protection for 20 comrades of the Xieng Khouang Provincial Military Command. In 2023, the Nghe An Border Guard Command continued to organize training for 40 comrades, and at the same time supported the three provinces of Xieng Khouang, Hua Phan and Bolikhamxay in preventing natural disasters and epidemics.

At the talks, the two sides signed a memorandum of understanding to continue coordinating in exchanging information, managing and protecting the border, and fighting and preventing crimes./.

Bich Huong