Propagating and disseminating policies and laws to typical village chiefs of Vietnam and Laos

Comrade Le Minh Khai - Secretary of the Party Central Committee, Deputy Prime Minister of Vietnam and Comrade Xa Lom Xay Kom Ma Xit - Member of the Politburo, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Laos co-chaired the conference.

Comrade Le Minh Khai - Secretary of the Party Central Committee, Deputy Prime Minister of the Government of Vietnam and Comrade Xa Lom Xay Kom Ma Xit - Member of the Politburo, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Laos co-chaired the conference. Photo: Pham Bang

Delegations from Vietnam and Laos attending the conference. Photo: Pham Bang

BUILDING A PEACEFUL, FRIENDLY, STABLE AND DEVELOPING BORDER ROAD

Speaking at the opening of the conference, Comrade Le Minh Khai - Deputy Prime Minister of the Government of Vietnam emphasized that in the history of international diplomacy, there are few relationships as beautiful and pure as the relationship between Vietnam - Laos, Laos - Vietnam.

The Vietnam-Laos border area has an extremely important strategic position for the security, defense and socio-economic development of the two countries. Building a peaceful, friendly, stable, cooperative and sustainably developed Vietnam-Laos border is an extremely important content, always being concerned and promoted by the Party, State and People of the two countries.

Comrade Le Minh Khai - Secretary of the Party Central Committee, Deputy Prime Minister of Vietnam delivered the opening speech at the conference. Photo: Pham Bang

In the work of border management and protection, the role of people living in border areas is extremely important. Practice has shown that it is the people living in border areas, with their awareness, responsibility and tradition of special friendship, who are contributing every day, every hour to consolidate and firmly protect the border and border markers, building a border of peace, friendship and cooperation for development between our two countries.

Deputy Prime Minister of Vietnam Le Minh Khai said that updating the border situation, studying and mastering the content of legal documents on the Vietnam - Laos border is very important and decisive to the effectiveness of border management and protection.

Comrade Xa Lom Xay Kom Ma Xit - Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Laos delivered the opening speech at the conference. Photo: Pham Bang

In his opening speech, Comrade Xa Lom Xay Kom Ma Xit - Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Laos emphasized that in border work, the important task is to jointly protect a strong and stable border, a border of peace, friendship and cooperation for mutual development, and a vibrant, prosperous, happy and prosperous life for people living along the two countries' border.

The most important thing is to make people living along both sides of the border understand the regulations and rules related to the border to prevent all negative issues from happening at the border. Therefore, it is necessary to focus on research and pay attention to building clear border laws and everyone needs to pay attention to the implementation of the legal regulations of the two countries as well as the regulations of both sides in mutual recognition.

AFFIRMING THE ROLE OF PEOPLE ON BOTH SIDES OF THE BORDER

At the conference, delegates from the two countries presented their papers, focusing on assessing, analyzing, and continuing to clarify the special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between the two Parties, the two States, as well as the authorities and people of the two countries; measures to ensure security and order in the Vietnam - Laos border area; regulations on civil status and nationality of residents in the Vietnam - Laos border area; procedures for exchange and border crossing activities of people from both sides; and the results of the model of village - village friendship on both sides of the Vietnam - Laos border.

Comrade Nguyen Minh Vu - Permanent Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs presented a speech at the conference. Photo: Pham Bang

Delegates from the two countries also agreed to affirm that the Vietnam-Laos border issue has been of concern to the two Parties and States since very early on and will be resolved together on the basis of equality, respect for each other's independence, sovereignty and legitimate interests, in accordance with international law and practice.

In the current period, when the establishment of the common border has been completed, it is necessary to focus on the management and cooperation in developing the border area, in which the important role of localities, officials and people on both sides of the border is affirmed.

Comrade Phoxay Khay Kham Phi Thun - Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Laos presented a speech at the conference. Photo: Pham Bang

Presenting the paper "The village-to-village twinning model and the people's responsibility in protecting the Vietnam-Laos border and border markers in Nghe An province", Vice Chairman of Nghe An Provincial People's Committee Bui Dinh Long said that Nghe An has a 468.281 km long border, bordering 3 provinces: Hua Phan, Xieng Khouang, Bolikhamxay (Laos). The people on both sides of the border are mainly ethnic minorities, with long-standing ethnic, kinship, and family relationships.

Since 2013, Nghe An province has signed a Memorandum of Understanding on coordinating the organization of the movement of twinning residential clusters (villages - hamlets) on both sides of the border with 3 provinces: Hua Phan, Xieng Khouang, Bolikhamxay. After nearly 10 years of implementation, there have been 21 pairs of villages - hamlets, 8 border posts with Lao police companies and stations twinned. Since then, the movement has always been maintained in a disciplined, quality and effective manner, promoting the great role of the people on both sides of the border in firmly protecting the territorial sovereignty and border security of each country.

Comrade Bui Dinh Long - Vice Chairman of Nghe An Provincial People's Committee presented a speech at the conference. Photo: Pham Bang

Through twinning activities, the two sides coordinate to raise awareness among people on both sides of the border about each country's policies and laws. Regularly exchange and learn experiences in leadership, management and operation, contributing to gradually improving the quality and effectiveness of the grassroots political system in villages and hamlets.

Through village-to-village twinning activities, it has contributed to preventing and combating illegal migration; unregistered marriages; trafficking and transporting of drugs across the border and other violations.

Deputy Prime Ministers of the two countries pay courtesy visits. Photo: Pham Bang

Deputy Prime Ministers of the two countries visited the photo exhibition of friendly cooperation activities between the two countries. Photo: Pham Bang

Through the conference, the typical village chiefs on both sides of the border will be the "fire-bearers", the "nuclei" who grasp and spread the meaning and importance of border management and protection, contributing practically and effectively to maintaining and consolidating the Vietnam - Laos border to always be peaceful, stable, friendly and cooperative for mutual development.

Pham Bang