Vietnam and Laos complete project to increase density and restore national border marker system

On March 16, in Hanoi, the State-level ceremony to conclude the completion of the project to increase and restore the Vietnam-Laos border marker system was solemnly held with the participation of Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung and Lao Prime Minister Thongsinh Thammavong, along with representatives of central ministries, branches and provinces sharing the border of the two countries.

Overview of the conference summary

Speaking at the ceremony, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung affirmed: The completion of the entire Project is a major event of great significance, demonstrating the high consensus, trust and mutual understanding between the two Parties, two States and peoples of the two countries; it is a vivid symbol of the traditional friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between the two countries on the principle of respecting each other's independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity and legitimate interests, equality and mutual benefit for a peaceful and stable border, cooperation and development for the benefit of the people of the two countries.

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung stated: The successful completion of the entire project has contributed to improving the quality of the Vietnam-Laos border both legally and practically. From now on, our two countries have a very clear border, recorded in great detail in legal documents and marked by a system of regular, modern, and sustainable border markers in the field. This achievement not only creates favorable conditions for border management and protection but also contributes to strongly promoting trade, investment cooperation and economic, cultural, and tourism exchanges between localities and people in border areas, contributing to consolidating political security, social order and safety, and ensuring national defense and security in border areas.

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung speaks.

On behalf of the Vietnamese Government, the Prime Minister sincerely thanked Lao Prime Minister Thongsinh Thammavong personally, the leaders as well as the Lao people for their close cooperation with Vietnam in implementing the project. The Prime Minister highly appreciated the great efforts of the Joint Committee for Border Marker Planting of the two countries, of the ministries, branches and localities of both sides, especially the forces directly involved in the field work of marker planting, who overcame difficulties and hardships, made contributions to the implementation of the project, and excellently completed the assigned tasks.

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung requested that the functional forces of both Vietnam and Laos continue to strengthen coordination to resolutely and effectively implement the Protocol on Vietnam-Laos border lines and border markers and the Agreement on the Regulations on Border Management and Border Gates on Vietnam-Laos Land, which were just signed at the ceremony, to build the Vietnam-Laos border into a border of peace, stability, friendship, cooperation and sustainable development.

The two governments will also strive to cooperate and pay more attention to investing in developing and perfecting the socio-economic infrastructure system, facilitating the enhancement of economic, trade, investment and tourism cooperation in border areas, making practical contributions to bringing a better life to the people.

At the ceremony, Lao Prime Minister Thongsinh Thammavong said that the completion of the project to increase the thickness and enhance the Vietnam-Laos border marker system has made an important contribution to building the two countries' border into a peaceful, stable, friendly border, bringing happiness and prosperity to the people of the two countries, especially those living in the border areas.

Prime Minister Thongsinh Thammavong speaks.

Prime Minister Thongsinh Thammavong highly appreciated the efforts of the Joint Committee for Border Marker Planting of the two countries over the past 5 years, which has focused its strength and intelligence, overcome numerous difficulties in terrain and harsh climate, and excellently completed the assigned tasks, and affirmed that the achievements have had great contributions from the Government of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam in terms of advanced materials, technology and a team of capable and experienced experts.

On this occasion, Prime Minister Thongsinh Thammavong called on all ministries, sectors from the central to local levels and all people of the two countries to continue to contribute their efforts to jointly preserve and protect the border marker system, respect the common border of the two countries, and build a prosperous, happy and stable life.

At the closing ceremony, on behalf of the Joint Committee on Border Marker Planting of the two countries, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Ho Xuan Son, Chairman of the Vietnam-Laos Joint Committee on Border Marker Planting, presented a summary report on the implementation of the Project.

Deputy Minister Ho Xuan Son said that since 2008, the two sides have coordinated to deploy simultaneous border marker planting along the entire route, increasing the number of markers in necessary areas to clarify the direction of the border in the field; renovating and building new existing markers, especially markers at pairs of border gates, forming a new system of solid, spacious, and modern markers, while applying modern technology with high accuracy to complete the legal dossier of the Vietnam-Laos border with 1,002 sets of legal dossiers of border markers.

With the completion of the Project, the 2,340 km long national border between the two countries has been supplemented and 1,002 new landmarks and markers have been installed, 4.5 times more than before (before the project, the entire border between the two countries had only 199 landmarks, too sparse).

The project not only brings a new, more recognizable, and easier-to-manage appearance to the Vietnam-Laos national border, but also contributes to building a solid international legal basis for cooperation and coordination between the two sides in the issue of border protection and management. This project also brings many opportunities for cross-border development cooperation, especially economic, trade, and tourism exchanges for the border provinces between the two countries.

The two Prime Ministers witnessed the signing ceremony.

Also at the ceremony, witnessed by the Prime Ministers of the two countries, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Vietnam Pham Binh Minh and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Laos Thoonglun Sisoulith signed two important legal documents: "Protocol on border lines and border markers" and "Agreement on border management regulations and land border gates between the Government of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam and the Government of the Lao PDR".

This is a particularly meaningful achievement to celebrate the success of the 12th National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam and the 10th National Congress of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party.

In recognition of the contributions of collectives and individuals of the two countries in the implementation of the Project, the Prime Ministers of the two countries awarded medals, insignia and certificates of merit from the President, Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs to organizations and individuals with outstanding achievements.

According to Chinhphu.vn