Organizing a movement to form twinning communities along the Vietnam - Laos border

(Directive No. 12/2013/CT-UBND, dated April 16, 2013 of Nghe An Provincial People's Committee)

Nghe An has a 419.5 km long Vietnam - Laos border, adjacent to the three provinces of Xieng Khouang, Hua Phan and Bolikhamxay of the Lao People's Democratic Republic. The people of the two ethnic groups on both sides of the border of Nghe An province and the three provinces of Laos have a long-standing close relationship. In recent years, implementing the foreign policy of the Party and State, Party committees, authorities at all levels, relevant branches, functional forces and districts, communes and border villages have closely coordinated with functional forces and Party committees and authorities of Laos to stabilize the situation related to territorial sovereignty and border security; at the same time, organizing many activities for people in border areas to exchange, support, learn, exchange, visit relatives, help each other in socio-economic development, stabilize life, contributing to building a peaceful, cooperative and friendly border between Vietnam and Laos. To continue to thoroughly implement Directive No. 04-CT/TU dated July 6, 2011 of the Central Party Secretariat (11th Term) on "Continuing to innovate and improve the effectiveness of people-to-people diplomacy in the new situation" and Official Dispatch No. 1551-CV/TU dated December 4, 2012 of the Provincial Party Standing Committee on twinning residential clusters on both sides of the land border,

The Provincial People's Committee requests:

1. Relevant provincial departments, branches, sectors, mass organizations and People's Committees of districts along the land border shall direct and organize the good implementation of the following contents:

a) Coordinate with relevant forces of Laos to organize propaganda and education to raise awareness among people on both sides of the border about the political significance and importance of people's diplomacy and the policy of twinning residential areas on both sides of the border. On that basis, to promote the combined strength of Party committees, authorities and people on both sides of the border, especially the border villages and hamlets; actively participate in strictly implementing the contents and programs of the signed agreements, based on the principle of respecting the sovereignty of each country, in accordance with the treaties, agreements and border regulations that the two countries have signed.

b) Coordinate the organization of surveys, depending on the nature, characteristics, customs and practices of each ethnic group and the specific situation of each locality, to determine the scope, objects and content of twinning, appropriate and practical, focusing on the following main issues:

- People on both sides of the border coordinate together to protect the status quo of the border line and the system of national border markers; coordinate to propagate treaties, agreements, and border regulations that the two countries have signed;

- Regularly exchange information, situations and coordinate to participate in the fight to prevent psychological warfare propaganda activities of hostile forces; border crossing; violation of territorial sovereignty; violation of resources; environmental damage on both sides of the border;

- Free migration, against illegal religious activities, drug trafficking, transportation and use, human trafficking across borders and other violations of the law.

- Support in preventing and overcoming the consequences of natural disasters and epidemics, helping each other in production and labor, developing household economy, handicrafts, and consulting on product consumption;

- Eliminate backward customs; organize cultural, artistic, sports exchange activities, etc. on traditional days, holidays and New Year's of each country.

2. Provincial Border Guard Commandhost:

- Coordinate with provincial departments, branches, border districts and relevant units to advise the Provincial People's Committee in disseminating and implementing the policy of signing agreements between residential clusters on both sides of the Vietnam - Laos border.

- Coordinate with the Provincial People's Committee Office to regularly monitor, guide, urge and inspect units and localities to implement this Directive.

3Department of Foreign AffairsPreside and coordinate with the Provincial Border Guard Command and relevant departments, branches and sectors to prepare content to advise the Provincial People's Committee to work with the leaders of the three provinces: Hua Phan, Xieng Khouang, and BolykhamXay of Laos, to agree on policies, contents and measures to effectively implement the Provincial People's Committee's Directive.

4.People's Committees of border districtsAgree on the policy with the districts of Laos that share the border, direct the border communes to coordinate with the Border Guard stations to conduct surveys, select pairs of villages to establish twinning, and organize the implementation in accordance with the instructions of the superiors. Initially, each district will select a pair of villages as a pilot, drawing experience on the occasion of the anniversary of the Southern Liberation Day on April 30, 2013 and International Labor Day (May 1, 2013); the remaining pairs of villages will complete the twinning before September 2, 2013.

5.Department of FinanceCoordinate with provincial departments, branches, sectors, land border districts and relevant units to annually review and allocate funds to implement the Directive, advise and submit to the Provincial People's Committee for consideration and decision.

6. Pursuant to this Directive,provincial departments, branches, sectors, mass organizations, People's Committees of border districts and related unitsDevelop a serious and effective implementation plan. Annually organize a preliminary review, evaluate results, and draw lessons. If there are any difficulties or problems during the implementation process, promptly report to the Provincial People's Committee (through the Provincial Border Guard Command) for guidance and resolution.

People's Committee
KT. CHAIRMAN
VICE PRESIDENT

LE XUAN DAI