Building a peaceful, friendly, cooperative border for mutual development

Over the past years, the Border Guard of An Giang province and the Police force of Kandal province (Kingdom of Cambodia) have closely coordinated in maintaining security and order and building a peaceful, friendly, cooperative border for mutual development. Recently, on the occasion of the delegation of the Kandal Provincial Police Department visiting the officers and soldiers of the Border Guard Command of An Giang province, we had a talk with Lieutenant General Chhoeurn Sochet - Director of the Kandal Provincial Police Department.

Delegation of officers from Kandal Provincial Police Department took souvenir photos with officers and soldiers of the Border Guard Command of An Giang Province. Photo : TIEN VINH

- Reporter : Lieutenant General Chhoeurn Sochet, please tell us about the cooperative relationship between the Kandal Provincial Police and the An Giang Provincial Border Guard in recent times ?

- Lieutenant General Chhoeurn Sochet:   An Giang province and Kandal province share a land border. For generations, people from both sides have traveled back and forth to do business, trade, and visit relatives according to traditional customs, very conveniently and peacefully. Accordingly, the border protection forces of both sides in general , especially the An Giang Provincial Border Guard and the Kandal Provincial Police, have coordinated very closely in protecting sovereignty and ensuring security and order in the border areas under their responsibility.

On the land border between the two provinces, thanks to the support of the two forces, the planning and marking of the boundary positions have been basically completed. This creates favorable conditions for people on both sides in production, as well as trade and visit relatives. The clearly demarcated border helps the two forces easily organize joint patrols and coordinate to effectively resolve arising issues.

The close cooperation between the two governments and the armed forces has contributed to strengthening the friendship and tightening the relationship between the people on both sides of the border. The Border Guard of An Giang province has provided us with a lot of material support to build barracks, as well as take care of the poor people in the border areas. Thanks to that, people can feel secure in working, producing, trading and exchanging goods. In recent years, the border between the two provinces has always been peaceful, and the people's lives have been increasingly improved.

- Reporter : It is known that the two forces have coordinated very well in protecting sovereignty and resolving incidents. Could you please provide more information on this issue?

- Lieutenant General Chhoeurn Sochet: Over the years, in addition to regular meetings, talks, and exchanges from the provincial to the grassroots levels, our two forces have established a close relationship, regularly exchanging information through many forms such as documents, phone calls, and letters. Even in some complicated cases, I have directly called the An Giang Provincial Border Guard Command through the specialized department. Thanks to that, we can make timely assessments and comments, and together resolve arising cases.

Currently , people in the two provinces continue to cultivate rice and grow crops on their own sovereign land according to long-standing customs. Occasionally, there are still incidents such as children from both sides destroying crops and grazing cattle on the other side's land. However, these situations have been received by the leaders of the two forces, who have directed their subordinates to coordinate and resolve them quite effectively.

The situation of going back and forth by shortcut, following habits, using open paths without reporting to the authorities has decreased significantly. However, because the border area is a plain, smuggling and transporting prohibited goods still occurs. We have had strict and timely instructions and coordinated to prevent it. The two sides have coordinated to handle many cases related to smuggling, and at the same time organized to receive violators for handling according to the laws of each country, avoiding prolonged conflicts that affect the relationship between the two sides.

- Reporter : Lieutenant General, in the coming time, what tasks will the Kandal Provincial Police Department focus on to continue coordinating with the An Giang Provincial Border Guard Command to build an increasingly stable and developed border?

- Lieutenant General Chhoeurn Sochet: During this visit as well as in the upcoming talks, we will continue to discuss and promote the achieved results, while learning from the limitations. In particular, we will focus on promoting propaganda and mobilizing people and passengers passing through the border gate to strictly implement the agreements and treaties on border and border gate regulations.

The Kandal Provincial Police Department will coordinate with the An Giang Provincial Border Guard to combat and suppress all types of crimes, including drug crimes, human trafficking, and high-tech crimes. Strengthen the exchange and timely notification of information and situations related to security and order in the border area; together effectively handle emerging situations, especially plots and activities of hostile forces. At the same time, promptly prevent propaganda activities that cause division in the great solidarity bloc and undermine the friendly relations between the two countries.

We will create favorable conditions for people from both sides to visit relatives, do business, and contribute to improving life and reducing poverty in the border areas. Maintain regular meetings and exchanges from the provincial level to the stations, posts, and commune authorities on both sides. When there are cases of violations of border regulations, the nearest border posts, battalions, companies, and stations will be notified to discuss appropriate handling measures in accordance with international law and practice. The two sides agree to take educational and persuasive measures as the main measures; absolutely do not use force to resolve the incident...

- Reporter : Thank you, Lieutenant General!

Performed by TIEN VINH

Source: https://baoangiang.com.vn/xay-dung-bien-gioi-hoa-binh-huu-nghi-hop-tac-cung-phat-trien-a426216.html