The Vietnam - China land border includes mainly high mountains, dense forests, many divided rivers and streams, rugged terrains, which are hard to travel. Taking advantage of the complex terrains and harsh weather there, criminals and smugglers have complicated types of crimes, smuggling, trade fraud, illegal entry and exit.
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A delegation of 11 border posts under the Lang Son provincial Border Guard Command holding talks with Longzhou and Ping Xiang Talks Stations of Chinese province of Guangxi |
Closely following real situations, the Vietnam Border Guard has closely coordinated with the Chinese border protection force to organize bilateral patrols to strengthen management and protection of borders and border gates.
To well perform this task, the border guard commands of provinces, based on the nature, characteristics, and situation in each border area, have pro-actively and flexibly worked with China’s relevant forces to boost the bilateral patrol work via letters of invitations, phone calls, and offline meetings. On that basis, commanding officers of border posts have developed specific, close-to-reality bilateral patrol plans with various scenarios and appropriate solutions according to regulations. They have directed thorough preparation of all types of vehicles to ensure the highest possible outcomes of patrols.
As one of the key units in Ha Giang province's border areas, the Border Post of Thanh Thuy International Border Gate is tasked with managing 31,252km of border and 41 border markers and three auxiliary ones from Marker No.233 to Marker No.272/2. The post also manages an area of five communes consisting of 32 villages, including 10 border ones.
Considering bilateral patrol one of the important tasks of the external border affairs, over the past time, the unit has always embraced and seriously implemented bilateral patrol plans. It has defined that the main task of each patrol is jointly inspecting borders, border markers, border works, exchanging information on local security and order, and sharing experience in border management and protection.
Colonel Nguyen Van Cuong, Commanding Officer of the Border Post of Thanh Thuy International Border Gate, said that since 2023, the unit has organized five joint patrols with Chinese partners with the participation of more than 40 Vietnamese officers and soldiers. During the joint patrols, participating units exchanged bilingual leaflets, disseminated information about the two countries’ legal regulations on border management and protection, and prevented illegal immigration. Through information exchange, both sides have more specific plans for future bilateral patrols, thereby effectively resolving arising incidents.
Within the framework of the upcoming eighth Vietnam-China Border Defense Friendship Exchange, scheduled to take place in Vietnam’s Lao Cai province and China’s Yunnan province in April this year, the Border Post of Lao Cai International Border Gate under the Lao Cai provincial Border Guard Command is going to conduct a joint patrol with the Chinese border protection force. The unit is promptly making thorough preparation to ensure the safety and success of the patrol.
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Patrol team from the Border Post of Thanh Thuy International Border Gate under the Ha Giang provincial Border Guard Command exchanging information with their counterpart from Tianbao Border Police Station and Tianbao Immigration Border Checkpoint, Wenshan Border Management Unit of Chinese province of Yunnan |
According to Lieutenant Colonel Bui Hong Ha, Commanding Officer of the Border Post of Lao Cai International Border Gate, in recent years, the provincial Border Post Command and the unit have periodically carried out bilateral patrol activities with Chinese border protection force. Despite hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, bilateral patrol remains one of the highlights of the unit’s performance of external border affairs.
The official added that during each patrol, the two sides directly discussed measures to manage the border, strengthen professional expertise, patrol, inspection, and law enforcement in border areas so as to prevent and control illegal entry and exit and all kinds of crimes. They also encouraged residents on both sides of the borderline to strictly comply with the provisions of the three legal documents on the Vietnam-China land border. At the end of each patrol, both sides signed the minutes of the patrol, in which directions and tasks for the next patrols are included.
It can be affirmed that the outcomes of bilateral patrol activities are maintaining security and order in border areas, and creating mutual understanding and trust between border guard forces of the two countries. Bilateral patrol is also one of the important measures and activities to help build and strengthen solidarity, friendship, cooperation and development between the two border protection forces.
Source: baobienphong
Translated by Mai Huong