Key highlights

Over the past 10 years (from 2014 to 2024), the Party Committee and Command of the Lao Cai Border Guard have flexibly and creatively applied research and implemented various models and activities in foreign relations, adapting them to the characteristics and situation along the border between Lao Cai province, Vietnam, and Yunnan province, China. Notably, they have developed and implemented eight effective approaches and models that have yielded significant results. Of these, six models were implemented nationwide for the first time.

Accordingly, on a quarterly basis, the Border Guard Command of Lao Cai Province (Vietnam) and the Border Guard Command of Mengzi District (China) take turns leading bilateral patrols at the command level. Each quarter, the two sides identify pairs of equivalent units and specify the patrol times for each unit. The two sides may also agree on surprise patrols before important events in each country, holidays, and traditional days of their respective forces. The patrol area covers the region between border marker No. 85 and border marker No. 172, divided into 11 patrol sections, each section being handled by a patrol team from each side.

At the border post level, the model has been implemented in practice since 2005 and its mechanism has been perfected, operating in a systematic manner since the first quarter of 2018; this is a step in implementing the Border Guard Cooperation Agreement between the Ministry of National Defence of Vietnam and the Ministry of National Defence of China signed on November 12, 2017. Due to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, operations were interrupted at times and have resumed regularly from the third quarter of 2023 to the present.

The Lao Cai Border Guard Command, in coordination with the Honghe Border Management Detachment and the Hekou Border Checkpoint in Yunnan Province, China, has agreed to implement a joint patrol mechanism, regularly organized from the 15th to the 25th of each month on a rotational basis; surprise patrols may also be conducted before major events in each country. The purpose is to patrol, inspect, and strictly control the border, combat and prevent illegal entry and exit activities and the transportation of goods across the border, apprehend lawbreakers, and facilitate the handover and repatriation of victims.

The model, implemented since 2013, has created a favorable environment and conditions, making a significant contribution to the task of managing and firmly protecting border sovereignty and security.

Once every quarter, the Lao Cai International Border Gate Border Guard Station in Lao Cai province, Vietnam, and the Ha Kou Border Control Station in Yunnan province, China, select outstanding officers and soldiers for their performance at the border gate to award them the title of "Vietnam-China Friendship Ambassador".

This strengthens solidarity and friendship between the two sides of the border, facilitating immigration and emigration. The model has been implemented since 2016, and to date, 17 "Friendship Ambassadors" have been selected from each side.

Once every quarter, the Lao Cai International Border Gate Border Guard Station in Lao Cai Province, Vietnam, and the Hekou Border Control Station in Yunnan Province, China, select outstanding Party members for their performance at the border gate to award them the title of "Outstanding Communist Party Member". From the second quarter of 2018 to the present, eight outstanding Party members have been selected from each side.

Border guard posts under the Lao Cai Border Guard Command have established fraternal ties with border management and border gate units of the border guard and border police forces on the opposite side of Yunnan Province, China. Regularly, they hold rotating meetings; in December each year, they conduct reviews, evaluate results, and award commendations. In addition, the two sides regularly exchange professional knowledge and information, coordinate legal awareness campaigns for the people, and combat crime. They also cooperate in environmental protection, disaster prevention and mitigation, search and rescue operations, cultural and sports exchanges, and mutual visits… Through these efforts, mutual understanding and trust have been strengthened.

Currently, 10 border guard posts under the Lao Cai Border Guard Command, Lao Cai province, Vietnam, have established fraternal ties with 15 border control sub-stations, entry and exit control stations, border management companies, and border guard battalions of Yunnan province, China.

The two sides organized exchanges and learning sessions on legal propaganda work between the Border Guard Forces of Lao Cai, Lai Chau, Ha Giang, and Dien Bien provinces of Vietnam and the General Border Police of Yunnan Province, China. They held photo exhibitions reflecting the activities of friendly border post-station cooperation and harmonious border crossings; coordinated legal propaganda and dissemination at border crossings; law enforcement patrols along the border; sent legal lecturers from each side to conduct legal propaganda presentations at seminars; screened video clips; and held cultural and artistic exchanges. This model has been implemented since 2017, organized on a rotating basis, with odd-numbered years held in Yunnan Province, China, and even-numbered years held in Lao Cai Province, Vietnam.

Since May 2015, the Border Guard Command of Lao Cai Province, Vietnam, and the Border Police Detachment of Honghe Prefecture, Yunnan Province, China, have discussed and agreed to conduct joint exercises to combat cross-border terrorism. The two sides have held two exercises, with each side mobilizing approximately 350 officers and soldiers to participate.

The Lao Cai Provincial Border Guard Command has directed its units to coordinate with the Vietnam Fatherland Front and other agencies and departments to effectively advise local authorities on organizing, maintaining, and implementing twinning programs between communities on both sides of the border. This model has been implemented since 2013, and to date, seven pairs of villages, hamlets, and towns on both sides of the border have established twinning relationships. Through these twinning models, both sides have coordinated in disseminating information to the people about the viewpoints, policies, guidelines, and laws of the Vietnamese Party and State; legal documents concerning the Vietnam-China land border; and the traditional solidarity and friendship between the people of the two countries. Both sides have also organized activities to exchange experiences, coordinate patrols to protect the border and border markers; exchange information, and cooperate in combating and preventing violations of border regulations and criminal activities. Organizing cultural and artistic exchange activities…

In addition to the above models and methods, the Lao Cai Border Guard and the border management and protection forces on the other side have also strengthened information exchange, notification, and coordination in deploying forces to carry out tasks related to forest fire prevention and control; disease prevention and control; and rescue and relief operations on border rivers and streams... The two sides have also established a hotline mechanism and exchanged information through liaison officers or direct meetings on the border to coordinate the resolution of incidents and emergencies that arise on the border...

The innovative models and approaches in border defense diplomacy implemented by the Lao Cai Border Guard have been recognized by superiors of Vietnamese and Chinese authorities as exemplary models, and have been disseminated and replicated along the entire Vietnam-China border. This has significantly contributed to the firm protection of national sovereignty and border security, and the building of a peaceful, friendly, cooperative, and developing border.

Presented by: Hoang Thu

* This article uses photos provided by contributors.

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