February 17, 2017 | 21:27 (GMT+7)
Vietnam, Laos discuss measures to tackle illegal migration
PANO – The Vietnam and Laos Border Guard forces organized a meeting in Nghe An province on February 16 to seek measures to better manage the two countries’ borderline areas, including tackling illegal migration.
The meeting, focusing on cooperation on border management and protection and illegal migration prevention, was co-chaired by Lieutenant General Hoang Xuan Chien, member of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam, Commander of the Vietnam Border Guard, and Major General Siphan Phutthavong, Director of the Lao Border Guard Department under the General Staff of the Lao People’s Army.
Signing the minutes at the meeting
Recently, the two sides have closely cooperated in exchanging information and effectively fighting criminal activities, including national security violation and armed drug trafficking.
The two Border Guard forces have been implementing the Agreement on Regulations on Border and Border Gates Management between Vietnam and Laos, and educating border people about the meaning of the Vietnam - Laos Borderline and Border Markers Intensification and Restoration Project and achievements in the management of the project.
The Defense ministries of the two countries directed the two Border Guard forces to twin, regularly organize joint patrols to manage the borderline and border markers, and maintain security and social order in border areas; cooperate to prevent illegal border crossings and migration; coordinate to implement the two governments’ agreement on settling uncontrolled migration and unregistered marriage issues.
However, some problems still emerge along the shared borderline, threatening sovereignty and security at the border areas of the two countries. Therefore, the two Border Guard forces need to cooperate closely to protect the borderline of peace and friendship between the two countries.
Translated by Ngoc Hung