According to a report delivered by Lieutenant General Hoang Xuan Chien, the Border Guard Commander, last year, the Border Guard Command’s Party Committee and chains-of-command precisely anticipated local situational developments, gave advice to the CMC and MND on national border management and protection, made timely reports to the Prime Minister to direct the address of violations of national sovereignty, and promoted law enforcement in border areas and at border gates.
Besides, they actively gave proposals to the CMC to issue an action program to implement the Decision No 33 on national border protection strategy.
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The Defense Minister speaking at the event |
Notably, in 2019, more than 17,500 border guards and over 600 vehicles were deployed to take disaster relief missions. The border guard force evacuated over 14,000 people in danger in natural disaster-hit localities to safe places, saved nearly 900 people and over 100 vehicles, and instructed over 2.5 million people and over 500,000 ships to take refuge.
It is worth noting that the force completed investigations into 153 cases, arrested 13, 641 suspects involved in 8,645 cases, seized thousands of kilograms of illegal drugs, nearly five million liters of petrol and other illegal goods with the total value of seized goods reaching over VND 550 billion.
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General Lich presenting gifts to troops of the Border Guard Command |
Regarding preparations for the upcoming Tet festival, the Border Guard Command directed its affiliated units to further manage and defend the borderline, ensure order and safety in stationed localities, boost political and ideological education for troops, urge troops to observe military discipline and organize a happy, safe, and economical Tet for troops.
Moreover, the border guard force organized solemn receptions for visiting foreign missions who extended Tet wishes to the force, sent 5,000 cadres and Party members to enjoy Tet with local people and invited over 15,000 village patriarchs, village heads, representatives from local authorities, policy families, national contributors and needy households to welcome Tet at border posts.
Furthermore, the force presented over 33,000 Tet gifts to local policy beneficiaries, 20,000 chung cakes and 6,000 kg of rice to local policy families and poor households, and gave presents to 5,362 discharged soldiers ahead of Tet.
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General Lich and troops of the Border Guard Command in a group photo |
Having wished a happy New Year to all border guards, General Lich heard reports on task performance, preparations for Tet and care for national contributors and needy people by commanders of Lung Cu Border Post (Ha Giang Provincial Border Guard Command), Rach Goc Border Post (Ca Mau Provincial Border Guard Command), and Truong Sa Border Post (Khanh Hoa Provincial Border Guard Command).
General Lich hailed the border guard force’s outstanding task performance and Tet preparations and asked troops to promote border management and prevention work, make double checks at border gates, and enhance the fight against crimes, smuggling, counterfeiting, and trade fraud.
The force was also urged to continue giving advice to higher levels and raise responsibility in implementing the national border protection mission, as well as achieve all set targets.
General Lich also asked the Border Guard Party Committee and chains-of-command to further defense and border relations in a more effective and practical manner, closely work with other forces to organize the fourth Friendship Border Exchange Program with the engagement of border protection forces from six Mekong Sub-region countries, and actively engage in defense relation activities in Vietnam’s ASEAN Chair Year 2020. The force was also requested to closely follow and precisely predict local situations, prepare personnel and vehicles for disaster relief and make response plans.
Translated by Mai Huong