Promoting solidarity between Vietnam - Laos - Cambodia under the same border roof

Located at an altitude of 1,086m above sea level, the border landmark is the junction between the three provinces of Kon Tum (Vietnam), Attapeu (Laos) and Rattanakiri (Kingdom of Cambodia). To turn this place into a symbol of solidarity between Vietnam - Laos - Cambodia as it is today, foreign affairs work has always received special attention from leaders at all levels from the Central to local levels and all classes of people.

Border junction landmark, symbol of solidarity between Vietnam - Laos - Cambodia. Photo courtesy of the Internet.

From the deep, undulating hills of the border, the border marker has been invested in and built spaciously and majestically, becoming a familiar destination for tourists from all over. Anyone who comes here will feel the closeness and familiarity as in their own home, even though just one step is enough to cross to Laos and Cambodia. Many people even say that once touching the border marker, they have touched the "heart" of Indochina and felt the beauty of solidarity between Vietnam - Laos - Cambodia in the common border house...

Carrying the responsibility of “gatekeepers”, for many years, the Border Guard of Kon Tum province has not only promoted foreign affairs, accompanied and understood every breath in the border area, but also been an important bridge, promoting foreign affairs at all levels of government in general and people-to-people exchanges in particular.

Although located at the end of the Vietnam - Laos border and the first point on the Vietnam - Cambodia border, with rugged terrain, sparse population, and difficult transportation, activities related to foreign affairs are still regularly, continuously, and effectively carried out by Kon Tum Border Guard units. In addition to activities of meeting to exchange information, coordinating bilateral patrols, fighting against crimes, natural disasters, and epidemics, Border Guard soldiers in the far North Central Highlands also support facilities and funding for living and working activities, and organize Border Guard training for colleagues on the other side of the border.

Exchange and twinning activities between the people and armed forces on both sides of the border are also maintained regularly, not only helping to grasp the situation early and from afar, promptly helping and supporting each other in life, but also contributing to gradually concretizing the viewpoints and policies on foreign affairs of the Party and State, building a peaceful, friendly, cooperative and mutually developing border.

The Command of the Border Guard Station at Bo Y International Border Gate visited and presented gifts to the border protection force of the Kingdom of Cambodia. Photo: Thai Kim Nga

Lieutenant Colonel Phan Trong Binh, Head of the Bo Y International Border Gate Border Guard Station (Kon Tum Border Guard) said: Located at the border junction, we simultaneously have foreign relations with the functional forces of both Laos and Cambodia. In the North is the Phu Cua International Border Gate Police Station and the 541st Border Guard Company of Laos. Similarly, in the South is the Kontuynek Police Station and the Border Guard Infantry Company of the Rattanakiri Provincial Military Sub-Region, Cambodia. With any unit, we always give our wholehearted affection like family members, wholeheartedly loving, helping and supporting each other. On the occasion of festivals and traditional New Year, the border junction is always bustling with the rhythm of solidarity with cultural, artistic, physical education and sports exchange activities. In the heart of Indochina, all have the same goal, the same direction to forever preserve the symbol of solidarity....

Unity creates strength. Under the sun, wind, or pouring rain at the border, the soldiers "guarding the gate" of the Indochina junction always walk steadfastly in joint patrols. The soldiers' faces, which seem dry and callous, are strangely soft and supple. In the middle of the vast wilderness, somewhere in the rhythm of solidarity, there is a Quan Ho song echoing on the plateau, a Lam Vong rhythm, a gentle and graceful Apsara dance, recalling the image of volunteer soldiers in the past who sacrificed themselves for their international duty. Captain Rongsoseyha, Commander of the Border Guard Infantry Company of the Rattanakiri Provincial Military Sub-Region, shared: "We received sharing from our Vietnamese friends, even cans of water for daily life and watering plants in the solidarity garden. There are still many difficulties and challenges, but the border guard force in the Indochina junction is always together."

Exactly 5 years after the 3-country border friendship exchange (provincial level) took place in Kon Tum province in 2018, once again, the Indochina junction region eagerly welcomes a big festival: the first Vietnam - Laos - Cambodia Border Defense Friendship Exchange at the Minister of National Defense level, scheduled to take place in December 2023.

It can be said that this is the biggest event in 2023 taking place in the far North of the Central Highlands, so all preparations are being urgently completed. In the area of Po Y commune, Ngoc Hoi district, Kon Tum province - where the main events will take place, works such as the 3-country Friendship Cultural House, the flagpoles of the 3 countries, solar lighting systems, water wells, friendship gardens, joint patrol roads... are entering the final stages. The Kon Tum Border Guard Command proactively advised and coordinated with the authorities and sectors and organizations on both sides of the border to develop detailed scenarios, locations for visits and gift giving by the 3 Ministers of National Defense, select recipients of livelihoods and scholarships, as well as the stages of celebration decoration, welcoming ceremonies for high-ranking leaders... to best serve the exchange.

Colonel Le Minh Chinh, Secretary of the Party Committee, Political Commissar of Kon Tum Border Guard, said: Based on the Resolution on leadership in implementing the first Vietnam - Laos - Cambodia Border Defense Friendship Exchange of the Provincial Border Guard Party Committee, the Command has deployed a plan, assigned specific tasks to each unit and department to ensure progress and achieve the highest efficiency. Up to now, we have completed 40 main tasks, serving the activities before, during and after the exchange...

At the border landmark area, under the unpredictable weather, soldiers protecting the borders of the three countries are still racing against time to complete the last task. As always, the rhythm of solidarity is beating, adding energy for the soldiers to "overcome the sun and rain", to successfully complete their mission. In the middle of the border, the "heart" of Indochina is being given a new "coat", more solemn, brighter and more beautiful, ready to welcome the big festival./.

vietnam.vn