The management of border lines, border markers, and border boundary posts is always given priority.

The agencies (members of the Steering Committee) such as: the Provincial Party Committee's Propaganda Department, the Provincial Border Guard Command, the Department of Justice, the Department of Information and Communications, and the People's Committees of border districts continue to carry out propaganda, dissemination, and legal education work on issues such as: the Agreement on the Regulations for Border Management and Land Border Gates between Vietnam and Laos; the Law on National Borders, the Law on National Defense; Government Decree 34/2014/ND-CP dated April 29, 2014, on the Regulations for the Land Border Area of ​​the Socialist Republic of Vietnam; and Government Decree 112/2014/ND-CP dated November 20, 2014, regulating land border gates. The Law on Handling Administrative Violations, the Law on Marriage and Family, the Law on Civil Status, the Law on Environmental Protection, the Law on Land, the Law on Forestry, and Directive No. 01/CT-TTg dated January 9, 2015 of the Prime Minister... mobilize the people to comply with the Party's guidelines and policies, the State's laws, and actively develop the economy according to the province's programs, projects, and plans.

The management of border lines, national border markers, and border boundary posts, as well as ensuring national defense and security, has always been a priority. The Border Guard of the province and the People's Committees of border districts closely coordinate with functional forces of Hua Phan province and Luang Prabang province (Laos) to maintain bilateral and unilateral patrols to protect the border system, national border markers, and border boundary posts. Specifically: 8 bilateral patrols with 186 participants; 55 unilateral patrols with 460 participants (including 307 Border Guards and 153 Militia members); and 229 patrols and control operations with 932 participants (including 775 Border Guards, 128 Police, and 29 Militia members). In coordination with the border management and protection forces of Luang Prabang province (Laos), a field inspection was conducted of the landslide area along the border near marker 145 in Muong Leo commune, Sop Cop district, following a prolonged period of heavy rain and flooding.

Simultaneously, in coordination with Hua Phan and Luang Prabang provinces (Laos), we will continue to maintain the import and export of goods and agricultural products through border gates, exchanging essential goods to serve the lives and production of the people. We will continue to implement the project (assisting Hua Phan province) to maintain and repaint the lettering, numbers, and national emblem on border markers and repair and beautify the architectural landscape of border marker 207 (Chieng Khuong border gate) and border marker 255 (Long Sap border gate); the project to build the Nam Lanh sub-border gate; the project to build a control station and housing for officers and soldiers at the Keo Muong border crossing; and complete the housing and working facilities project for officers and soldiers and auxiliary works at the Na Cai sub-border gate.

The implementation of socio-economic development projects in border areas is receiving attention. The organization and implementation of programs, schemes, projects, plans, and residential planning, as well as the development of transportation, information, health, and clean water infrastructure, continue, contributing to the gradual promotion of socio-economic development in border regions. The construction of a land database in border districts is underway: Surveys have been conducted to gather data for cadastral mapping in border communes and districts. The consulting unit is finalizing the report to the Land Department - Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment for adjustments to the technical design and cost estimate. After the adjustment, the implementation timeline for the project "Completing the surveying, cadastral record preparation, issuance of land use rights certificates, ownership certificates for houses and other assets attached to land, and building a land database for border districts" will be determined. Implementation of the database under the "Strengthening Land Management and Land Database VILG Project in Son La Province": To date, the Strengthening Land Management and Land Database (VILG) Project, funded by a World Bank loan, has been implemented in five border districts: Yen Chau, Mai Son, Moc Chau, Song Ma, and Van Ho. All five districts have completed, inspected, and put their databases into operation on the VBDLIS software.

In addition, maintain literacy classes at levels 1 and 2 for ethnic minority people in the border areas of the province. Continue to develop agricultural and forestry production in concentrated specialized farming areas with appropriate scale, leveraging the potential and strengths of each region in conjunction with the effective implementation of the One Commune One Product (OCOP) program; review and assess the current status and tasks and solutions for implementing the national target program for building new rural areas in border districts in the period 2022 - 2025. Continue to develop a plan for integrated transportation development into the General Planning of Son La province for the period 2021 - 2030, with a vision to 2050, including: Provincial Road 102 becoming National Highway 16 extended to Long Sap border gate, Moc Chau district; Provincial Road 105A becoming National Highway 4G extended to Nam Lanh border gate, Sop Cop district. Develop a priority investment list for upgrading key routes connecting to border gate areas such as: National Highway 43, National Highway 4G, Provincial Road 102, Provincial Road 103, Provincial Road 105 in the period 2021 - 2030; issue Vietnam-Laos inter-country transport permits for vehicles in the province.

In the third quarter of 2023, diplomatic activities such as visits, working meetings, signing cooperation agreements, border defense diplomacy, support and assistance, cultural exchanges, and family visits between various levels and sectors of Son La province and Hua Phan and Luang Prabang provinces of Laos proceeded smoothly, safely, and effectively according to plan. This contributed to further strengthening the special friendship and comprehensive cooperation between Son La province and Hua Phan and Luang Prabang provinces, making the relationship even closer and deeper. Cooperation agreements and support activities between various levels, sectors, and border districts of Son La province and Hua Phan and Luang Prabang provinces were maintained, including: training in Vietnamese language, professional skills, and expertise for officials, soldiers, police, and students; technical training and model transfer in the field of agricultural production...

In the coming period, the province will continue to maintain and strictly control entry and exit activities; export and import activities along the border within the province's territory, in conjunction with implementing cross-border disease prevention and control; strengthen bilateral patrols and territorial control to protect the safety of the border system, national border markers, border posts, and other border structures; coordinate with the two neighboring provinces to maintain and repair national border markers as prescribed; promptly and effectively combat all types of crime (especially drug-related crimes) and subversive activities of hostile forces; and promote the mass movement of the people participating in protecting the national sovereignty and border security. The province will continue to maintain a good, close, trustworthy, regular, and timely relationship between the Party committees and governments on both sides of the border.

Nhu Thuy