A meeting was held between Song Ma district, Son La province, and Muong Et district, Hua Phan province (Lao People's Democratic Republic). Photo: Manh Hung

Mr. Lo Van Sinh, Chairman of the People's Committee of Song Ma District, said: Every year, the District People's Committee advises the Standing Committee of the District Party Committee to issue leadership and guidance documents to strengthen foreign relations activities. This includes building and fostering friendly cooperative relationships with neighboring districts of Laos; expanding cooperation with other international organizations; and promoting the potential, historical and cultural strengths, and cultural values ​​of the district to localities, countries, organizations, and friends both domestically and internationally...

To strengthen economic diplomacy, the district proactively coordinates with departments, agencies, and businesses to promote and introduce potential for economic development cooperation, actively promotes trade, expands import and export markets, and attracts foreign investment. It creates favorable conditions for businesses and cooperatives to participate in showcasing their distinctive products at events, and to introduce, promote, and sell the district's typical, high-quality agricultural products.

Song Ma District, Son La Province, presents gifts to Muong Et District, Hua Phan Province (Lao People's Democratic Republic). Photo: Manh Hung

In addition, Song Ma district formed a delegation to participate in the "Son La - Hua Phan Cultural Tourism Festival" and showcased and promoted the district's tourism, cultural, and OCOP products. It coordinated with Muong Et district, Hua Phan province, Lao People's Democratic Republic, to create favorable conditions for businesses and people to buy, sell, and exchange goods to serve their production and daily lives. It also directed specialized agencies to guide and monitor the mango cultivation model in Muong Et district, covering 1.15 hectares, which is currently growing and developing well.

From 2024 to the present, the total volume of goods exported and imported with Muong Et district has reached over 5.2 million USD. Song Ma district has chaired the meeting with Muong Et district to exchange and evaluate the results of cooperation in various fields and to discuss and agree on the direction of cooperation for each year.

Leaders of Song Ma district, Son La province, held discussions with leaders of Muong Et district, Hua Phan province (Lao People's Democratic Republic). Photo: Manh Hung

The Song Ma River management directed functional units to coordinate and organize 7 bilateral patrols; 72 unilateral border patrols, with hundreds of officers, soldiers, militia members, and women from border communes participating; and organized 149 patrols and control operations in the area. Regular inspections were conducted, data on bridges and roads were updated; marker posts and signs were adjusted and repainted; roadbeds and shoulders were filled; vegetation was cleared; ditches were cleaned; and the surface of border roads and markers was maintained.

Lieutenant Colonel Lo Van Tuan, Political Officer of the Muong Cai Border Guard Station, shared: The unit regularly patrols and ensures security in the area; coordinates with Border Guard Company 212, Hua Phan Provincial Military Command, Lao People's Democratic Republic to patrol and protect the border and national border markers. Maintaining the "Helping Children Go to School and Adopted Children of the Border Guard Station" program, the unit currently adopts two children at the station and supports three children (one from Laos), with a support level of 500,000 VND/child/month, and the "Army Helping Children Go to School" project, supporting 19 children, each worth 2.4 million VND/year.

Focusing on foreign relations, Song Ma district has effectively mobilized resources to invest in infrastructure development, attracting domestic and foreign economic entities to participate in socio-economic development, and building a peaceful, friendly, and prosperous border region.

Nguyen Thu