Bilateral patrol strengthens solidarity and friendship

Yen Khuong Border Guard Station coordinated with Company 216 (Laos) to conduct bilateral patrols of the border section from marker 349 to marker 350.

With the task of managing and protecting 7km of border and 3 border markers adjacent to Laos, officers and soldiers of Yen Khuong Border Guard Station always closely monitor and ensure security and order at the border. In the unpredictable weather conditions of rain and sunshine, winding, steep and slippery marching routes in the middle of the deep forest, the patrol forces of both sides have shown great determination. During the patrols, the patrol forces of the two units conducted patrols and inspections at the border trails, cleared the border, checked the border marker signs, and performed the rituals and procedures according to the regulations in bilateral patrols such as: greeting the border markers, checking and cleaning, clearing the border markers... Also during the patrols, Yen Khuong Border Guard Station and the Lao Border Guard Company organized an exchange of information, situations, and agreed on the content of activities to control, combat, and prevent violations of border regulations and laws. After each bilateral patrol, both sides hold a meeting to review experiences, discuss relevant situations, sign minutes and agree on future patrols.

Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Trong Minh, Head of Yen Khuong Border Guard Station - who has just returned from a bilateral patrol of the border section from marker 349 to 350 said: "This is an activity that the unit regularly coordinates with the neighboring country's forces to promptly detect violations of border regulations, resolve incidents occurring on the route; coordinate to protect the common border, maintain political security, order and social safety on the border. Bilateral patrol activities also contribute to enhancing mutual understanding, further consolidating the special solidarity and friendship between Vietnam and Laos in general, and between units in particular".

Thanh Hoa province has 213.6km of border adjacent to Hua Phan province. In recent years, under the direction of the Thanh Hoa Provincial Border Guard Command, the mountainous border guard force has strengthened cooperation with the border guard force of Hua Phan province, building a peaceful, friendly, stable, cooperative and developing Vietnam - Laos border. Officers and soldiers of border posts regularly proactively meet, exchange information, strictly maintain the periodic meeting regime with the border guard forces of Laos; build close ties as well as create high consensus and unity in the process of coordinating the implementation of tasks. The Provincial Border Guard Command has maintained regular talks with the Security Command and Military Command of Hua Phan province twice a year; and held expert-level meetings with the Military Command and Police of Hua Phan province once a year. Direct border posts to hold regular meetings every 3 months and have ad hoc exchanges with border companies, military commands and police of Xop Bau, Vieng Xay and Sam To districts. Coordinate to increase the density and improve the Vietnam - Laos border marker system in the border area between Thanh Hoa and Hua Phan provinces with 88 locations/92 markers and 9 locations/13 markers.

In addition, advising and directly supporting friends to overcome the consequences of natural disasters; maintaining the twinning of residential clusters on both sides of the border; organizing visiting and exchange activities to contribute to tightening the special friendship between the border protection forces of the Border Guard of Thanh Hoa province and Hua Phan province (Laos). At the same time, maintaining the twinning exchange between 6 border posts and 3 border companies of Hua Phan province; advising local Party committees and authorities to maintain the twinning of 17 pairs of border villages. The Provincial Border Guard also actively coordinates with Lao forces to participate in consolidating political bases in the clusters of villages; promoting the role of military medicine of posts, stations and local medical facilities to examine, treat and provide medicine for border officers and people.

Colonel Do Ngoc Vinh, Commander of the Thanh Hoa Provincial Border Guard Command, said: "Recently, bilateral patrols and joint patrols are among the many bright spots in border diplomacy that are being effectively implemented. At each border post and station, based on actual conditions and task requirements, border diplomacy has been implemented very creatively, in the common spirit of strengthening solidarity, trust, and mutual understanding; helping the border management forces of each country successfully carry out the task of protecting national sovereignty and border security, while creating an open environment for exchange activities and cooperation in socio-economic development."

Article and photos: Hoang Lan

Source: https://baothanhhoa.vn/tuan-tra-song-phuong-that-chat-tinh-doan-ket-huu-nghi-248550.htm