(VOVWORLD) - Vietnam and Laos have just completed a master plan on restoring the national border marker system and increasing the number of markers. The shared border is now clearly delineated in legal documents and maps and has a modern, solid marker system. This is making border management and defense easier and boosting the friendship and cooperation between the two countries.
 Lao Bao International Border Gate in Quang Tri province (Photo: VNA) |
The Vietnam-Lao border is 2,337km long, dividing 10 Vietnamese provinces and 10 Lao provinces. In Vietnam, the border runs from Sin Thau commune in Dien Bien province to Bo Y commune in Kon Tum province. This border area is strategically important for national security, defense, and socio-economic development.
Vivid manifestation of Vietnam-Lao special friendship
The shared border was delineated 40 years ago. Since 2008, paid for by the Vietnamese State budget, more than 1,000 markers and milestones have been restored and a set of border maps have been drawn.
Currently, thre is 2.6km, on average, between border markers or milestones. A protocol on the Vietnam-Laos border line and national border markers and an agreement on border and border gate management regulations have been in force since September 5. At a meeting last week to review implementation of the border marker restoration plan, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc said: “This is a monumental event, demonstrating the consensus and trust between the two Parties and countries and the Vietnam-Lao special friendship. From now on both countries’ boundaries are clearly stated by legal documents and attached maps, and there is a modern, solid border marker system based on equality, mutual respect, and international law.”
Border built with soldiers’ sweat
It took the blood, sweat, and tears of both Vietnamese and Lao soldiers to complete the project given the rugged topography and severe weather conditions. Quang Nam province, which has a 142km border with Laos’ Sekong province, fulfilled the plan in just 5 years. Colonel Van Ngoc Que of the Quang Nam Border Guard Command said:“People in border areas helped us transport materials, cleared trees near border markers, and did many other things to help us achieve our targets ahead of schedule. Quang Nam completed the restoration of 60 border markers along its border one year earlier than planned.”
Minster of Information and Communications Truong Minh Tuan assessed the work done: “This is the pride of the two Parties and nations. One of the foundations of the Vietnam-Lao special relationship is the close bond between people on both sides of the border, who treat each other like relatives. That’s why neither country faced any obstacle from its neighbor in building a border of peace, friendship, cooperation, and co-development or in consolidating this special relationship.”