At the event, Deputy Chief of Staff of the Border Guard Command Senior Colonel Tran Nam Trung briefed delegates on agencies and units’ preparations for contents assigned by the Ministry of National Defense. According to the report, adhering to higher level’s direction, the Staff, departments, and the Son La provincial Border Guard Command have closely coordinated with local authorities and relevant forces to overcome weather-related challenges and promptly implemented preparation tasks. As of September 29, agencies and units under the Vietnam Border Guard Command basically completed preparations, ensuring the activities of the second edition will take place as planned.

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Lt. Gen. Le Duc Thai chairs the working sessions.

On October 2, the organizing panel will hand over livestock to 60 households on both sides of the Vietnam - Laos borderline. A running competition for young military officers from both countries and a friendship tree and flower-planting event in the border area between Son La province’s Moc Chau district and Huaphan province’s Sop Bao district will be held on the same day.

After hearing the report, Lt. Gen. Le Duc Thai praised and highly appreciated the Staff Department, and Son La provincial Border Guard Command for closely coordinating with local authorities to overcome weather-related challenges to complete the preparations for the program. He also requested agencies and units to continue to review, address, and complete the assigned tasks to ensure that activities within the exchange program will be kicked off as planned.

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Sr. Col. Tran Nam Trung briefs delegates on preparations.

The 2nd Vietnam - Laos Border Defense Friendship Exchange Program is scheduled to officially take place on October 22 and 23, in the border locality of Moc Chau district of Vietnam’s Son La province and Sop Bao district of Laos’ Huaphan province. Senior officials from the two governments, defense ministries, and sectors will participate in key events of the program. In particular, the program will feature numerous activities along the border, including donating livestock; providing free health check-ups and medicines for ethnic minority people in border areas; awarding scholarships to needy students living on both sides of the borderline; exchanges between young officers of the two countries' armed forces; joint border patrols; coordination to combat transnational drug crime; and discussions between delegations from the Ministries of National Defense of both countries.

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Forces of the two sides practicing for upcoming event

The 2nd edition aims to strengthen the close-knit relationship between the two countries, particularly among the border communities, while enhancing the sense of responsibility of the border guard forces in jointly safeguarding borders, combating crime, helping people eliminate hunger and reduce poverty, and building a borderline of peace, friendship, stability, cooperation, and development.

Source: Baobienphong.com.vn

Translated by Tran Hoai