Attending the conference on behalf of the Lao delegation were Comrade Bun Chan Pan Phong Phet - Member of the Executive Committee of the Luang Prabang Provincial Party Committee, Secretary and District Head of Phon Thong District, Head of the Phon Thong District delegation; Comrade Thong Suk Som Pha Van - Member of the Executive Committee of the Hua Phan Provincial Party Committee, Secretary and District Head of Muong Et District, Head of the Muong Et District delegation; Comrade Xi Vi Lay Phim Ma Vong - Member of the Executive Committee of the Hua Phan Provincial Party Committee, Secretary and District Head of Muong Son District, Head of the Muong Son District delegation. On the Sop Cop District side were Comrade Quang Van Tieu - Standing Deputy Secretary of the District Party Committee, Chairman of the District People's Council, Head of the Sop Cop District delegation, along with other members of the working groups from Sop Cop District, Phon Thong District, Muong Son District, and Muong Et District.

Scene from the briefing meeting.

In 2023, thanks to the attention and support of all levels and sectors, the close guidance of the Son La Provincial Party Committee and People's Committee; and the unity and efforts of the Sop Cop District Party Committee, People's Council, People's Committee, and people of all ethnic groups in Sop Cop District, the socio-economic situation of Sop Cop District continued to develop in all fields. Cooperative relations between Sop Cop District, Son La Province, and Phon Thong District, Luang Prabang Province, and Muong Son and Muong Et Districts, Hua Phan Province, were increasingly strengthened and developed. Armed forces units performing duties along the border between the two countries (Vietnam - Laos) strictly controlled entry and exit activities; and exports and imports along the entire border within the district. From October 2022 to the present, the functional forces of Sop Cop District have coordinated bilateral patrols with Muong Et District four times. The district conducted three joint bilateral patrols with Muong Son district and four joint bilateral patrols with Phon Thong district. During these patrols, the border markers remained intact, and no violations or signs of encroachment on the border were detected. The districts actively cooperated in the fight against crime in general, and especially drug-related crimes, resulting in the arrest of three individuals in three separate cases (two citizens from Muong Xum cluster and one citizen from Nam Cuong cluster, Muong Et district, Hua Phan province, Lao People's Democratic Republic) for the illegal trafficking of narcotics. Coordinating the implementation of the Sop Cop - 2023 Joint Exercise Plan. Working in coordination with the border guard forces of Phon Thong district to film videos for the "Joint Exercise on Preventing Free Migration and Illegal Entry and Exit across the Vietnam-Laos Border" between the Border Guard Command of Son La Province/Vietnam and the Military Command of Luang Prabang Province/Laos in the border area between Sop Cop and Phon Thong districts. In addition, the districts regularly organized visits and greetings on holidays and festivals of each country, contributing to consolidating and strengthening the special friendship and solidarity between Vietnam and Laos.

Sop Cop District signs border liaison minutes with neighboring districts of Laos.

To further build upon the achievements, in 2024, the districts unanimously agreed to continue promoting propaganda and education among the people in border areas regarding the Agreement on Border Management Regulations and Border Gates between Vietnam and Laos; the Protocol on the Border Line and Border Markers between Vietnam and Laos; and the Party's guidelines, policies, and laws of the two States on border affairs. They will continue to coordinate more closely in monitoring the situation in border areas, regularly exchanging information to promptly resolve incidents and maintain security and order in the border region. They will strengthen coordinated patrols to protect the safety of the border line and border markers; prevent and effectively handle potential incidents such as: buying, selling, storing, and transporting narcotics; illegal religious education and proselytization; illegal migration; illegal encroachment, illegal settlement, and illegal border crossing; and disaster and disease prevention in border areas. Provide timely notification when outbreaks of human diseases, plant diseases, or animal diseases occur. Maintain regular meetings at the district level with other districts; at the commune level with clusters of villages; and between the Police, Military, and Border Guard forces. and alternate the location for the meetings. Continue to encourage the exchange of goods between the people of the two districts in accordance with the laws of Vietnam and Laos. Sop Cop district will continue to create conditions for people from border villages and officials from Muong Et, Muong Son, and Phon Thong districts to receive medical examination and treatment at the health stations in the border areas and Sop Cop District General Hospital. Costs such as medicine, living expenses, hospital fees, etc., will be implemented according to the current policies of Vietnam and Son La province.

Authors: Thanh Vân - Tòng Luân