The 2nd Vietnam-Laos Border Defense Friendship Exchange Program, organized by the Vietnamese Ministry of National Defense, was a resounding success. The echoes of the numerous events that took place during the program remain fondly remembered by the delegates, authors, participants, and especially the authorities and people on both sides of the border. Through these two events, this activity has contributed to strengthening mutual understanding and trust between the border management and protection forces of Vietnam and Laos, enhancing coordinated combat capabilities, maintaining security and order in the border region, and further solidifying the ever-lasting and enduring solidarity between the military and people of the two countries.
General Phan Van Giang, Member of the Political Bureau, Deputy Secretary of the Central Military Commission, Minister of National Defence of Vietnam, and General Chansamone Chanyalath, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defence of Laos, visited and presented gifts to Pa Hang Primary and Secondary School in Laos as part of the 2nd Vietnam-Laos Border Defence Friendship Exchange Program.
Over the two days of the program, along with the preceding activities, the 2nd Vietnam-Laos Border Defense Friendship Exchange received great attention from the people of various ethnic groups in Son La and Hua Phan provinces, especially in the areas where the exchange activities took place. At the Long Sap Border Gate Border Guard Post (Son La Border Guard Command), many activities took place, including: flag-raising ceremonies, painting border markers, planting friendship trees; observing joint exercises of functional forces from both countries handling cross-border crime; visiting border guard posts of both countries; and inaugurating school buildings in localities on both sides of the border. The local authorities and people shared many heartfelt sentiments towards the soldiers and the work they have been doing in this border region.
Mr. Vi Van Phun, from Long Sap commune, Moc Chau district, Son La province, shared: "For many days now, upon learning that the Vietnamese Minister of National Defense is coming here to welcome the Lao Minister of National Defense to Vietnam to participate in the exchange program, we people have been very happy and excited. It is truly an honor and a source of pride for the people of Long Sap. For many years, thanks to the soldiers, the lives of our people have improved and changed a lot. This time, we also received breeding cows from the Border Guard to raise and develop our family economy. We are very grateful to the Ministry of National Defense and the Border Guard."
As for the teachers and students of Long Sap Ethnic Boarding Primary and Secondary School, the school building project includes 12 classrooms, equipped with 30 computers, 30 computer desks and chairs, 240 desks and chairs, and a 2,000m² playground.2The newly built school, with its concrete road leading to it, and the rows of buildings including classrooms, computer rooms, a library, restrooms, and a beautiful, modern schoolyard, meeting the teaching and learning needs of the school, was inaugurated and handed over with immense joy. Using the new computer for the first time, Mè Văn Hùng, a student in class 6A, happily said: "My dream has come true. I will be determined to study hard and become a computer teacher to teach the students in my hometown."
A highlight of this exchange program was the joint exercise conducted by both sides to handle cross-border crime. The exercise involved numerous police, military, and border guard forces. This is also a regular coordinated activity of these forces in patrolling, controlling, and ensuring security and order in the border areas of the two countries. Colonel Vong Thon Khan Tha Vong Xa, Deputy Commander of the Hua Phan Provincial Military Command, who directly participated in this joint exercise, stated: "Through this exercise, we have learned many lessons in managing and combating cross-border crime. After the exercise, the solidarity between the border management and protection forces of the two countries has been further enhanced, and it has also provided us with many useful lessons to support the effective performance of our border management and protection duties."
Sharing his thoughts after the exercise, Colonel Ban Van Chanh, Deputy Commander of the Son La Border Guard, said: "The coordination work in general, especially the coordination in preventing and combating drug crimes in particular, between the Border Guard forces of Son La province (Vietnam) and Hua Phan province (Laos) has been carried out regularly and effectively. Both sides share the common understanding that a peaceful, friendly, and cooperative border is the most favorable condition for people in the border areas of the two countries to have a comprehensive development environment; becoming even closer and building a peaceful and happy life together." With the participation of many forces, Colonel Ban Van Chanh believes that the exercise demonstrated the most basic aspects of coordination between the functional forces of the two sides, providing an opportunity for the forces to share experiences and understanding, build mutual trust, and continue to coordinate to achieve the highest effectiveness in border management and protection as well as in combating crime.
At the political and young officer exchange between the Vietnamese and Lao armies, themed "Unwavering Faith," heartwarming stories of human kindness were shared. These included images of Vietnamese Border Guards wholeheartedly assisting and sponsoring Lao students facing difficulties; warm handshakes; and affectionate glances between officials and citizens of both countries. All of this created a vivid picture of the special friendship between Vietnam and Laos, affirming the enduring vitality of this loyal and steadfast relationship, built with the blood and tears of previous generations and continued to be nurtured to this day.
Many disadvantaged students from Long Sap district (Son La province, Vietnam) and Sop Bau district (Hua Phan province, Laos) have received scholarships from the "Helping Children Go to School - Children Adopted by Border Guard Posts" program, launched and implemented by the Border Guard Command since 2016.
During the gala night of the art exchange program, Ms. Trang Thi Xuan, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Son La province, affirmed: "Foreign affairs are a very important task for Son La province. To date, Son La province has signed comprehensive agreements with 9 provinces in Northern Laos with many important contents in all fields... In particular, Son La province focuses on the close relationship with its two neighboring provinces, Hua Phan and Luang Prabang."
The Provincial Party Committee and the Provincial People's Committee have also assigned tasks to the three forces of the Military, Border Guard, and Police in foreign relations activities, focusing on several areas such as: Vietnamese language training for Laotians; professional training and development for Laotians; support in equipment for professional tasks; and economic assistance for Laotian units. In particular, the Son La Border Guard Command has coordinated with the Provincial Police to organize professional training on drug prevention and control for the police and border guard forces of neighboring Laotian provinces, which has been highly appreciated and recognized by the Laotian side.
Acknowledging and appreciating what the Party, State, and People's Army of Vietnam have done for the people of Laos, at the gala night, Comrade Phut Phan Keo Vong Xay, Deputy Governor of Hua Phan province, emphasized: "The Party, State, and Government of Vietnam have always paid attention to and supported Laos in general and Hua Phan province in particular in many important projects, thereby helping Hua Phan province have many projects and infrastructure, promoting economic development and improving the lives of the people. Some particularly important projects include: the economic development and infrastructure construction project in the villages of Pha Den, Muong Et, Muong Po, Muong Son...".
It can be affirmed that the 2nd Vietnam-Laos Border Defense Friendship Exchange Program has left many important marks, deeply reflecting the solidarity and friendship between the military and people on both sides of the Vietnam-Laos border. This is evident not only in defense and security cooperation and crime prevention, but also in education, healthcare, economics, culture, and social affairs, which the soldiers of the "Uncle Ho's Army" have diligently cultivated and expanded throughout the areas they have visited. We believe that in the future, the Vietnam-Laos Border Defense Friendship Exchange Program will continue to be an important bridge to strengthen defense cooperation, contributing to the firm protection of the sovereignty and security of each country's borders, and to peace, stability, cooperation, and development in the region and the world.
Hoang Van