Building a border of friendship

(Baonghean) -The governments of Vietnam and Laos have decided to hold a "Ceremony to celebrate the completion of the work of increasing and renovating the Vietnam - Laos border markers in the field" at Thanh Thuy (Nghe An) - Nam On (Bolykhamxay) Border Gate. On this occasion, Nghe An Newspaper interviewed comrade Thai Van Hang - Member of the Provincial Party Committee, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee, Head of the Steering Committee for planting Vietnam - Laos border markers in Nghe An province, Head of the Provincial Organizing Committee for the welcoming ceremony.



Comrade Thai Van Hang - Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee discussed with Deputy Ministers of Foreign Affairs of Vietnam and Laos about the organization of the welcoming ceremony. Photo: Sy Minh



Lieutenant Colonel Phan Thanh Hong (right) - captain of the No. 2 Border Marker Planting Team with comrade Bun Lam Xa Ne Ha (left) - captain of the border mark planting team of Bolikhamxay province (Laos) on the border mark planting route. Photo: TH

Reporter: Dear comrade, the work of increasing the density and embellishing the national border markers along the border between Nghe An and the neighboring provinces of Laos is an extremely difficult task due to the long border, rugged terrain, and harsh climate. So how has the Provincial Border Marker Planting Steering Committee (PCB) directed departments, branches, sectors and functional forces to complete the assigned tasks?

Comrade Thai Van Hang:Up to this point, we can confirm that the work of increasing and renovating the national border markers between Nghe An province and the provinces of Bolikhamxay, Xieng Khouang, and Hua Phan of Laos has been successfully completed. For nearly 6 years, the Steering Committee for Border Marker Planting of Nghe An province and the departments, branches, sectors, and functional forces of the province have closely coordinated with the provinces of Laos to survey and construct 105 locations with 116 national border markers and 6 markers.

Of the total 2,067 km of border between Laos and 10 provinces of our country, Nghe An is the locality with the longest length of 419.5 km, with high mountainous terrain, deep streams, dense forests, no paths, harsh weather, the rainy season often causes flooding, separation in many places. In addition, it is also affected by bombs, mines, poisonous snakes, insects, etc. Therefore, most of the markers that have been increased and renovated are located in difficult and dangerous locations, making it difficult to transport materials, markers, equipment, vehicles, food, drinking water for officers, soldiers and forces participating in surveying, supervising and constructing national border markers.

Over the past years, with the close direction of the Prime Minister, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and relevant ministries and branches of Vietnam and Laos, the Provincial People's Committee, the Border Marker Planting Steering Committee of Nghe An province, relevant departments, branches and units, and representatives of the leaders of the districts bordering Laos have actively strengthened propaganda and mobilized people in the border areas to thoroughly grasp the Party and State's policy on the task of increasing and renovating the national border marker system. Thereby, making the masses clearly understand and contribute to building a peaceful, friendly and increasingly sustainable border, contributing to protecting national sovereignty and territorial integrity.

The Border Marker Planting Steering Committee and participating forces have also promoted responsibility, complied with the law, border management regulations and regulations on border marker planting. During the implementation of the task, the Border Guard force regularly patrolled, controlled, and promptly detected sabotage plots, affecting political security in the border area and impacts affecting the established markers. The provincial Steering Committee and relevant agencies have maintained good communication from the teams to the specialized agencies and the Steering Committee; at the same time, maintained a reporting regime to the Vietnam - Laos Joint Committee for Border Demarcation and Marker Planting. The report content is close to the actual work that has been and is being done, serving as an important basis for the monitoring and direction of all levels to achieve high efficiency.

Reporter: To complete the work of increasing and renovating border markers is the effort of the two governments of Vietnam and Laos and the provinces sharing the border of the two countries. How do you evaluate the close coordination between the Steering Committee for Marker Planting of Nghe An province and the Steering Committee for the three provinces of Laos?

Comrade Thai Van Hang:The work of increasing and renovating border markers between Vietnam and Laos is a bilateral activity to affirm the sovereignty and territorial integrity of each country, while enhancing cooperation for development. This work is both national and international in scope and demonstrates the special and close friendship between Vietnam and Laos. Therefore, ministries, branches, localities, and functional forces of the two countries have promoted their responsibilities, proactively discussed and reached consensus to complete the task well.

The People's Committee and the Marker Planting Steering Committee of Nghe An province have closely coordinated with the Steering Committees of Bolikhamxay, Xieng Khouang and Hua Phan provinces (Laos) to unify plans and organize the implementation of bilateral activities, such as: Coordination of surveying landmark locations, supervising the construction of landmarks in the field, and recommendations and proposals to the Joint Committee and the Vietnam - Laos Marker Planting Joint Expert Team; every year, the Marker Planting Steering Committee of Nghe An province holds meetings with the provinces sharing the border with Laos, and at the marker planting team level, meetings are held once a month, with locations rotating between the localities of the two countries.



The milestone was carried up the steep cliff.

The regular coordination of the Nghe An Provincial Border Marker Planting Steering Committee with the provinces sharing the border with Laos has contributed to ensuring the construction progress. Typically, when starting to implement the task of increasing the density and embellishing the border markers (2008), each side only established one border marker planting team, but considering the fact that the border is long and the terrain is difficult, the Nghe An Provincial Border Marker Planting Steering Committee and the provinces of Bolikhamxay, Xieng Khouang, and Hua Phan met to discuss and unanimously propose to the Joint Committee for Border Demarcation and Marker Planting, the governments of the two countries Vietnam - Laos to allow the establishment of a second border marker planting team (August 2010).

Therefore, the marker planting work was faster, meeting the requirements of both time and quality of the project. Or the Xieng Khouang Provincial Marker Planting Steering Committee, when completing its task in its province, sent a marker planting team to reinforce Hua Phan Province to work with the marker planting force of Nghe An Province to speed up the progress. During the construction process, the authorities of the districts and people on both sides of the border provided great support and assistance. Many villages and hamlets created all conditions, arranged accommodation, and showed the way for the functional forces to the markers for construction.

During the process of planting the markers, many places had to go from the neighboring land to the marker location, and the neighboring provinces sent forces to guide and protect the marker planting teams to complete their tasks. Throughout the implementation process, from surveying, organizing construction to acceptance at each marker, there were forces from both sides, ensuring accuracy and respecting the national border sovereignty of each country. The forces from both sides have eaten, lived, and worked side by side like brothers on the border for nearly 6 years.

In addition, the Provincial Border Marker Planting Steering Committee regularly contacts the Border Marker Planting Steering Committees of other provinces by writing or phone calls to exchange information, grasp developments in border marker planting work, and promptly unify direction for the border marker planting teams of the two sides to implement according to the plan signed by both sides.

Reporter: Dear comrade, what is the significance of the decision of the Governments of Vietnam and Laos to choose the inauguration of the 460th Algebraic Marker at Thanh Thuy - Nam On Border Gate, between Nghe An and Bolikhamxay provinces to organize the "Celebration Ceremony for the Completion of the Work of Increasing and Restoring the Vietnam - Laos Border Markers in the Field" to the Party Committee, Government and people of Nghe An?

Comrade Thai Van Hang:In the history of international relations up to now, the special relationship between Vietnam and Laos is a typical example of strong and loyal ties. That relationship is constantly nurtured by the Party Committee, Government and people of the provinces sharing the border of the two countries through foreign affairs activities, cooperation in socio-economic development and coordination in security protection in border areas. Nghe An province highly values ​​that solidarity and cooperation and concretizes it through many bilateral activities with neighboring provinces.

The activities of increasing and upgrading border markers further contribute to affirming that the planned border between the two countries is consistent with the reality of the border, in accordance with international law and ensuring the harmony of interests of the two countries. This is an important legal basis for the two states of Vietnam and Laos to continue directing the work of border management and protection.

The event of the two governments of Vietnam and Laos organizing the "Welcoming Ceremony" at the Algebraic Marker 460, Thanh Thuy - Nam On Border Gate is an activity of national and international significance. This is the first time that Nghe An province has the honor of welcoming the Prime Ministers of Vietnam and Laos at the same time. This shows that the two governments highly appreciate the strategic position, potential and advantages of Thanh Thuy - Nam On Border Gate in the socio-economic development of the two countries.

In the near future, the two provinces of Nghe An and Bolikhamxay will open the Thanh Thuy - Nam On Border Gate, creating favorable conditions for people and means of transport to travel from Cua Lo, Vinh City (Nghe An - Vietnam) to Vientiane (Laos), the Northeast region of Thailand and vice versa, shortening the distance by nearly 100km compared to going through other border gates. From National Highway 46 to Thanh Thuy Border Gate, the terrain is flat and close to the Ho Chi Minh route, so the North Central provinces of Vietnam can cooperate economically with Laos, Thailand, connecting with other countries through the East Sea, the Pacific Ocean, creating spillover and development in the region and continents.

The “Welcome Ceremony” at Thanh Thuy Border Gate further contributed to strengthening the solidarity and connection between the Party, State and people of the two countries. Thereby, the Party Committee, Government and people of Nghe An province continue to promote the achievements in the cooperative relationship with the provinces of Laos that share the border to promote socio-economic development in the border areas - where for a long time, the people of the two countries have had close ethnic and kinship relations, helping each other in times of need and supporting each other in life.

Reporter: Thank you very much, comrade!

Nguyen Son (performed)