On the occasion, Deputy Political Chief of the Border Guard Command Senior Colonel Nguyen Quoc Cuong granted an interview to the Border Guard Newspaper to help readers understand more about the role and responsibility of young Vietnamese and Cambodian border guard officers.
Reporter: For the first time, an exchange for young border guards of Vietnam and Cambodia is organized. Could you elaborate on the purpose and meaning of the program?
Senior Colonel Nguyen Quoc Cuong: The first Vietnam - Cambodia Young Border Guards Exchange is a practical activity to celebrate the "Vietnam - Cambodia Solidarity and Friendship Year 2022" and the 55th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and Cambodia. Through activities, the exchange program will contribute to strengthening the relationship between the authorities, peoples, and militaries of the two countries in general and the border defense forces in particular. The event is also to consolidate and enhance political trust, friendship and solidarity, substantive cooperation and cohesion between the two border guard forces, contributing to building a shared borderline of peace, friendship, stability, cooperation and development.
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Senior Colonel Nguyen Quoc Cuong |
This is also an opportunity for young border guards of the two countries to exchange experience in managing and protecting border areas and preventing and combating crimes infringing upon national security, drug crimes, human trafficking, and transborder terrorism. The event provides a chance for the Vietnamese and Cambodian young officers to foster cooperation in disaster relief and prevention of natural disasters and epidemics in border areas.
With the spirit of mutual trust and understanding, the exchange is to help young generations of the two countries have proper and deep understanding about the neighboring relationship and solidarity between Vietnam and Cambodia in the past and at present, thus encouraging young border guards to uphold the tradition founded by the previous generations. Through activities, the program is expected to foster coordination between the two border guard forces to firmly protect the territorial sovereignty and security in border areas and building a shared borderline of peace, friendship, cooperation and development.
It is believed that, after this exchange, the border guards of both sides will further promote their role and responsibilities, make more practical contribution to the successful implementation of guidelines of the two countries’ leaders, be determined to uphold the special friendship established by former generations, and work together to firmly safeguard territorial sovereignty and security and build a borderline of peace, friendship, cooperation and mutual development.
Reporter: Young Vietnamese and Cambodian border guards have been a vanguard force in managing and protecting sovereignty and border security. What are their outstanding achievements in recent years?
Senior Colonel Nguyen Quoc Cuong: Vietnam and Cambodia are two close neighboring countries, sharing the same majestic Mekong River. Through many ups and downs in the 55-year history of their relationship, the parties, states and peoples of the two countries have stood side by side, stayed united, and helped each other to gain national independence and revive Cambodia. They have also assisted each other in building peace, stability and development in each country.
Upholding the tradition of the two nations, the two militaries and the two border guard guards, young officers have over the past years been core, important, and direct force in implementing cooperation contents reached by the Vietnam Border Guard Command and the Cambodian Army of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces and achieved practical results. Notably, they have actively participated in exchanges and meetings, especially between the Border Guard Commands of Vietnamese provinces and the Military Sub-Regions and Border Guard Battalions of Cambodia. The young border guards of the two sides have exchanged information and coordinated in the fight against crime and illegal entry and exit. Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, young border guards of the two countries have given prompt support and encouraged each other to complete the task.
They have also been the core force taking part in important events to educate young generations and people about the friendship and solidarity between the two countries, two militaries, and two border guards. The highlights are the 45th anniversary of Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen's journey to seek ways to salvage his country from the Pol Pot genocidal regime, the inauguration of a complex commemorating Prime Minister Hun Sen’s journey, the first Vietnam-Cambodia Border Defense Friendship Exchange, and meetings and talks between the Commander of the Vietnam Border Guard Command and the Deputy Commander-in-Chief cum Commander of the Army of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces.
It can be affirmed that the young border guards of Vietnam and Cambodia have well promoted their vanguard role, creativity, and aspiration to make contribution. Their efforts have helped actualize guidelines of the leaders of the two countries, two defense ministries, and two border guards and deepen the close relationship between border guard units, importantly contributing to successfully implementing border guard missions and building a borderline of peace, friendship, cooperation and development.
Reporter: What activities should the Vietnamese and Cambodian young border guards focus on in the coming time to further promote the vanguard force’s role and strengths?
Senior Colonel Nguyen Quoc Cuong: To successfully accomplish their tasks, young border guards of the two countries should thoroughly study and strictly carry out tasks in an agreement inked by Commander of the Vietnam Border Guard Command Lieutenant General Le Duc Thai and General Hun Manet, Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces and Commander of the Royal Cambodian Army. The two sides should focus on studying common views and perceptions reached by the senior leaders of the two countries, the two militaries and cooperation agreements on border. They should also determine their responsibility and determination and take practical actions to preserve, cultivate and promote the good friendship between the two peoples, the two militaries, and the two border guards.
Young border guard officers of Vietnam and Cambodia should promote vanguard spirit, creativeness, activeness, and pro-activeness in responding to post-pandemic stage; be exemplary in implementing the principle of respect for national sovereignty and territorial integrity; closely coordinate in performing the task of ensuring security and safety in border areas; fight against crime, illegal entry and exit; be ready to work together to effectively respond to natural disasters, epidemics and non-traditional security issues.
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Senior Colonel Nguyen Quoc Cuong (left) checking the management and protection of border landmarks |
In addition, they should actively make recommendations and be core force in implementing exchanges and meetings between young border guards of the two sides to strengthen solidarity and cohesion after a long time interruption due to the pandemic and actively advise local authorities to create conditions for hamlets to twin and help each other in economic development.
They should also be the force to advise local authorities to promote friendship exchanges between people living along the shared borderline, disseminate to enhance people’s awareness of the Agreement on Border Management Regulations and the laws of each country, and mobilize locals to participate in preventing illegal entry and exit and fighting crime and smuggling.
Leaders of the Vietnamese and Cambodian border forces deeply believe that the young border guards of the two countries will continue to uphold the tradition built by former generations, stay united and work together to raise the effectiveness of task performance, making worthy contribution to firmly protecting the territorial sovereignty and national border security and building a shared borderline of peace, friendship, cooperation and development.
Reporter: Thank you!
Source: bienphong.com.vn
Translated by Tran Hoai