Border project symbolizes special Vietnam-Lao relationship

The grand border marker – No.460 - at the Thanh Thuy-Nam On gate signals the completion of border marker upgrades along the two countries’ shared boundary.

The milestone contributes to consolidating border security and building a border of peace, friendship, stability, and cooperation for mutual development.

The work manifests the trust, understanding, and consensus reached between the two countries’ Parties, States, and people.

Photo (VGP)

It is a vivid symbol of the traditional bilateral friendship and solidarity based on principles of respecting independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity, as well as equality and shared benefits.

Speaking at the ceremony, PM Dung said both Parties, States, and Governments, are constantly encouraging border marker maintenance and upgrades.

This is a victory for a border of peace, stability, and cooperation, he said.

The event has created favourable conditions for economic exchange and cooperation between the provinces of Nghe An and Bolikhamsay while also opening up opportunities for economic, trade, and investment links between the two countries’ businesses and investors, the Vietnamese PM added.

According to the PM, the Thanh Thuy-Nam On gate is expected to become an attractive destination for investors and tourists at home and abroad.

PM Dung described the border marker planting completion as the fruit of the traditional Vietnam-Laos friendship.

Concurring with PM Dung, Lao PM Thongsing Thammavong said the project has contributed to improving living standards and reducing poverty for border area residents.

He praised the efforts of the Vietnam-Laos Joint Committee on Border Marker Planting and the ministries, branches, localities, and border demarcation forces whose labour accomplished the task.

The PM affirmed the Lao Government’s and people’s resolve to partner with their Vietnamese compatriots in building a border of eternal friendship, peace, stability, and cooperation for mutual development.

The two PMs called for unified determination in fulfilling the remaining parts of the work by 2014.

Lao Border Committee Head Bun Kot Sang Som Sak briefed the ceremony on the project’s five-year implementation.

Eight hundred and thirty five modern markers have been planted in 793 positions along 2,067km of shared border, he said.

The two sides plan on imminently expanding cooperation through legal documents such as the Protocol on Border Demarcation and Marker Planting, the new Agreement on Border Management Regulations, and the Vietnam-Laos Border Gates and Border Gate Management Regulations.