At the meeting, Le Duc Thai welcomed Major General Onkham Si Venvong Sack and the delegation to Thanh Hoa, affirming that the visit would help strengthen mutual understanding, trust, and coordination, while further deepening the great friendship, special solidarity, and comprehensive cooperation between Viet Nam and Laos.
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Comrade Le Duc Thai speaks at the working session. |
Briefing the delegation on the province’s outstanding achievements in socio-economic development, defense and security, and political system building, comrade Thai affirmed that relations between Thanh Hoa and Houaphanh provinces have continued to strengthen, becoming increasingly substantive, in-depth, and effective.
The two sides regularly exchange high-level delegations, while trade, cultural, sports, tourism, and people-to-people exchanges have made positive progress. Thanh Hoa has supported the training of thousands of students and officials from Houaphanh, provided medical examinations and treatment for tens of thousands of officials and people from the province, and assisted in the construction of many facilities serving Houaphanh’s socio-economic development.
In defense and security, Thanh Hoa’s border guard force and Lao border protection force have maintained close coordination, particularly in joint patrols, information sharing, and efforts to combat cross-border crime.
Comrade Thai thanked the Lao side for its coordination and assistance to Thanh Hoa’s functional forces in their task performance, hoping that both sides would continue to strengthen cooperation and maintain a peaceful and friendly border.
He called on the border protection forces of the two countries to enhance information exchanges, share experience, and coordinate effectively in addressing emerging issues along the border, while stepping up efforts to combat cross-border crimes, particularly drug trafficking, human trafficking, and illegal entry and exit.
The two sides were also urged to continue coordinating in the search for and collection of the remains of Vietnamese volunteer soldiers and military advisors who sacrificed their lives in Laos, while effectively conducting people-to-people diplomacy. These efforts would contribute to building a stable and developing border area and further deepening Viet Nam-Laos relations in general and Thanh Hoa-Houaphanh ties in particular.
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Delegates of the Lao side at the event |
For his part, Maj. Gen. Onkham Si Venvong Sack thanked the host for the warm reception, praising the effective coordination between the border guard forces of the two countries, particularly along the Thanh Hoa-Houaphanh border.
He affirmed that the Lao side would continue close coordination with the Viet Nam Border Guard and Thanh Hoa’s functional forces in border management and protection, strengthening information exchanges, patrols, inspections, and crime prevention efforts. These activities would help build a border of peace, friendship, cooperation, and development and maintain security and order along the shared borderline.
Translated by Quynh Oanh