Head of the Vietnamese delegation Senior Colonel Nguyen Thanh Hai, Deputy Political Chief of the Vietnam Border Guard Command, and head of the Lao side Colonel Sacksith Phichit, Deputy Director of the Border Guard Department of the General Staff of the Lao People’s Army, co-chaired the talks.
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Sr. Col. Nguyen Thanh Hai speaks at the talks. |
In his opening remarks, Col. Sacksith Phichit expressed his delight at the participation of the Vietnamese young border guard officers, underlined that the third exchange program is held in a heroic land full of historical imprints featuring Laos-Vietnam fighting alliance.
Col. Sacksith Phichit affirmed that throughout the history, Vietnam and Laos are two close neighbors that are drinking together the water of the Mekong River, sharing the Truong Son (Annamite) Mountain range. The Vietnam-Laos traditional friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation, which was nurtured and cultivated by President Ho Chi Minh and President Kaysone Phomvihane, President Souphanouvong, as well as generations of leaders and people of the two countries, has become a great asset to the two peoples. The head of Lao delegation also emphasized the significance of the exchange program in promoting cooperation between the two countries.
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Col. Sacksith Phichit concluding the event |
During the talks, both sides affirmed that, over the past time, the Vietnamese and Lao young border guard officers have promoted their vanguard role and the spirit of creativity, as well as exerted great efforts to effectively implement border management and protection; deal with arising issues in border areas to build a shared borderline of peace, friendship and sustainable development.
The two forces have pro-actively coordinated to accomplish regular and unscheduled tasks, especially in the protection of the Party's ideological foundation, the fight against different kinds of crime, natural disaster and disease prevention and control, and search and rescue operations, to name but a few. These practical activities have contributed to deepening the special ties between the two nations.
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Both sides present gifts to each other. |
For his part, Sr. Col. Nguyen Thanh Hai expressed his belief that with the long legacy of experience of Col. Sacksith Phichit and the tradition of solidarity and great efforts of the two border guard forces, in time to come, the young officers would continue to heighten their responsibility and determination to preserve, maintain, and uphold the solidarity and traditional friendship between the two countries in general and the Vietnam Border Guard Command and the Lao Border Guard Department in particular; making active contribution to the cause of protecting and building a peaceful and prosperous country of the two nations.
Concluding the event, Col. Sacksith Phichit required the two countries’ young officers to focus on implementing the protocol on border cooperation between the Vietnamese and Lao Defense Ministers signed on January 6, 2024, enhance coordination in protecting and managing the border and conduct bilateral patrols, maintain the exchange of information and situation in border management and protection and issues in border areas, pro-actively give recommendations to higher levels to boost information dissemination and encourage people in both sides of the shared borderline to strictly observe the State’s law and comply with legal documents on the border and related agreements.
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Delegates in a joint photo |
Meanwhile, he required the Vietnam Border Guard Command and the Border Guard Commands of Vietnam-Laos border provinces to continue to support the Lao border guard force in professional training and share experience in border management and protection, while holding programs to exchange and share experience between border units of the two countries.
Moreover, both sides should continue to carry out delegation exchange activities, cultural, artistic and sports exchange, coordinate with local authorities in border areas to implement twinning activities between residential clusters along the border, contributing to further fostering the great friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and Laos.
Source: baobienphong
Translated by Quynh Oanh