Special border exchange program

PANO – A special border exchange program was co-held by the Vietnam Border Guard Command and the Vietnam Television on the evening of May 7^th in Hanoi in the presence of State President Tran Dai Quang; Minister of National Defense General Ngo Xuan Lich, Minister of Public Security Sen. Lt. Gen. To Lam, Chief of the General Department of Politics Sen. Lt. Gen. Luong Cuong, Deputy Chief of the General Staff Sen. Lt. Gen. Vo Van Tuan; and representatives of relevant agencies.

An art performance at the exchange. Photo: Trong Hai

For a joint goal

The exchange was opened with an art performance titled “Close friendship” performed by art troupes from Vietnam and its border-shared neighbors, namely Laos, China and Cambodia. The performances sent a message of solidarity, cooperation, and trust among border forces of the four countries and the goal of building a border of peace, friendship, stability, and development. It also demonstrated the aspiration for a peaceful and wealthy life for people along the shared borderlines.

Representatives of participating countries at the exchange. Photo: Trong Hai

In recent years, foreign policies of each country have been realized by practical and substantial foreign border relations activities. Major General Hoang Xuan Chien, Chief of the Vietnam Border Guard force, stated at the exchange that the border guard force of Vietnam has effectively cooperated with its Chinese, Lao, and Cambodian counterparts in various related fields. They include expertise exchange, mass mobilization work, support for local people along the borderlines, joint patrols, border station twinning, and more.

Major General Chen Ding Wu, Chief of the Department of Border Management under the Chinese Ministry of Public Security, pointed out the most outstanding cooperation activities held between the Vietnamese and Chinese border forces. They include prevention of illegal immigration, combat against drug-related crimes, human trafficking, and counter-terrorism activities.

Changes seen in border areas

The cooperation between the border guard force of Vietnam and those of neighboring countries in recent years has resulted in effective and creative border management models and methods. The models and methods have in turn resulted in a better life in border areas.

One of the highlights in the border cooperation is the border station twinning model. It has helped border stations of the two countries exchange experience and professional expertise. So far, 123 couples of stations have been twinned. Of them 59 are Vietnamese-Chinese, 50 Vietnamese-Lao, and 14 Vietnamese-Cambodian twinned couples. Apart from the border station twinning model, the border guard force of Vietnam also supports Vietnamese border residential areas in twinning up with their peers across the borders. At this point, 142 Vietnamese villages have been twinned with various residential areas of other countries.

Representatives of participating countries in a joint photo. Photo: Trong Hai

Since the first special border exchange program held in March 2014, units under the Vietnam Border Guard Command have implemented thousands of meetings, talks, joint patrols, with relevant forces of China, Laos, and Cambodia. The activities aimed at sharing information, maintaining the implementation of agreements on border and border gate management. Coordination among relevant forces in controlling and managing border and border markers, combating crimes, forest fire fighting, mitigating natural disasters, environment protection, search and rescue, and more has been conducted increasingly effective.

Major General Bummi Xengkhamdong, Head of the General Department of Security under the Ministry of Security of the Lao People's Democratic Republic (LPDR), said that the “one-stop-shop” model has proven its usefulness. The model has helped people and goods traveling through border gates save much time. Procedures and solutions to problems arising at border gates have also been carried out more quickly.

Border areas have become not only places for trade, economic development, cultural exchange, but also the venues to boost friendship and mutual trust. General Nou Lek Khena, Deputy Head of the General Department of Immigration under the Ministry of Interior of Cambodia, proposed that friendship border exchange activities should be promoted and enhanced to help local people along the borderline further understand the importance of fostering friendship and cooperation between neighboring countries.

Delegates posing for a joint photo at the end of the exchange. Photo: Trong Hai

In a cozy atmosphere, the exchange program brought the audience moving stories and interesting art performances reflecting the aspiration for a border of peace . At the end of the exchange, Major General Hoang Xuan Chien presented bouquets of flowers to border guard representatives of China, Laos, and Cambodia.

The special border friendship exchange program concluded in a warm atmosphere and strong confidence in the development of the border of peace and friendship between Vietnam and China, Laos, and Cambodia.