People and troops’ efforts
According to Senior Colonel Trinh Huu Tang, Political Commissar of the Lang Son provincial Border Guard Command, the whole province has a border of 231.7km, of which 121.6km of patrol roads have been constructed by the Ministry of National Defense along the border. However, from the main patrol roads, the border markers are quite far away, often separated by rivers, mountains, and hills. Therefore, border troops have built temporary bridges to carry out their duties in an easier manner. The difficult terrain, especially during the rainy season, has significantly impacted troops’ task performance.
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Troops from Po Ma Border Post and people building the road leading to border marker No.962 |
Defining the building of roads leading to border markers is an urgent and long-term task, since 2010, the Lang Son provincial Border Guard Command has directed border posts to use funds from production activities to build nearly 40 concrete roads leading to border markers, making it easier for troops to patrol along the border and for local people to travel and cultivate.
Based on the initial experience and success, the command has pro-actively coordinated with the province’s Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee and the provincial People's Committee to develop the project on building roads to border markers in Lang Son province through calling for resources from individuals and organizations in the society. The project has mobilized the power of people via donations, creating resources to build more roads.
In early 2022, to facilitate patrol and border marker inspection tasks, border posts used their own funds, along with support from local authorities, agencies and units, and businesses, to continue the construction of 64 roads, with a total length of nearly 8 kilometers.
Mobilizing strength of whole people
In the 2023-2024 period, more than 400 agencies, units, businesses, sectors, and forces inside and outside the province provided financial and personnel support to build roads leading to border markers across the province.
One of the typical projects is the road leading to border marker No.962 in Doan Ket village, Quoc Khanh commune, Trang Dinh district, Lang Son province. This road was constructed by the efforts of officers and soldiers from Po Ma Border Post and hundreds of people from Doan Ket village. It stretches about 2,000m long and 1.2m wide and includes more than 600 stone steps and a bridge crossing a stream.
Lt. Col. Do Van Phuc, Political Commissar of Po Ma Border Post, shared that troops and people in Trang Dinh district have worked together with determination to complete the construction of the roads leading to border markers. In the 2023-2024 period, Po Ma Border Post collaborated with agencies, units, organizations, and the people in Trang Dinh district, especially troops and people from Quoc Khanh and Doi Can communes, to complete 47 out of 50 roads.
Up to now, the whole province has built nearly 300 concrete roads.
Speaking at the inauguration ceremony of the road leading to border marker No.962, Lieutenant General Nguyen Anh Tuan, Political Commissar of the Vietnam Border Guard Command, highlighted the construction of the road as a practical initiative that upholds the synergy of the whole political system and people in joining hands with the border guard forces to safeguard national sovereignty and border security. These roads are a testament to military-civilian solidarity, creating strength to jointly protect a border of peace and development.
Translated by Quynh Oanh