Leaders of Sop Cop district and Muong Et, Muong Son, Phon Thoong districts (Lao PDR) signed the minutes of the meeting. Photo: PV.

Ms. Tong Thi Kien, Vice Chairman of the District People's Committee, said: Since 2007, the district has signed an agreement on cooperation with districts sharing the border. The two sides together build, protect and foster solidarity, friendship, special traditions and comprehensive cooperation. Strengthen the extensive propaganda work on the cultural traditions of the two peoples of Vietnam and Laos, educate cadres, party members and people to preserve and foster the special friendship, cooperation and mutual assistance between the Party committees, authorities, armed forces and people on both sides of the border.

Along with that, Sop Cop district and districts of Lao PDR regularly exchange, periodically hold meetings, inform each other about the situation, sign memorandums of understanding on comprehensive cooperation in the fields of economy, culture, education, national defense and security. Direct border communes and villages to coordinate with Nam Lanh, Muong Lan, Muong Leo Border Guard Stations to proactively maintain contact to exchange information with Lao authorities; strengthen measures to combat and promptly prevent violations of the Vietnam - Laos Border Agreement and Regulations signed by the two countries. On the occasion of the traditional Bunpimay New Year, the district organizes delegations to visit or send congratulatory letters to officials and people of districts sharing the border.

Sop Cop district leaders presented gifts to Muong Et district, Hua Phan province (Lao PDR).

The district directs border communes, military forces, police, and border guards to strictly control exit and entry activities. Strengthen coordination, information exchange, promptly detect, combat, and resolve issues arising in border areas, not allowing them to become "hot spots" that complicate security and order. Direct border posts to strengthen patrols, unilateral and bilateral control to protect border lines, border markers, and other border works in the district.

In 2024, in coordination with Border Guard Companies 161 and 211 (Lao PDR), 10 bilateral patrols and 83 unilateral patrols were conducted to protect the border and border markers, while renovating the border markers. Through patrolling and controlling, the border and border marker system remained intact, no signs of encroachment were detected, and national territorial sovereignty and border security were protected and maintained.

Nam Lanh Border Post, Sop Cop district coordinated with Border Guard Company 211 (Lao PDR) to inspect border markers.

Lieutenant Colonel Dinh Van Quang, Head of Nam Lanh Border Guard Station, said: The unit regularly exchanges information and situations with Border Guard Company 211 in performing the tasks of border protection, immigration control management, crime prevention and handling of cases related to both sides of the border. In 2024, the unit coordinated bilateral patrols 6 times; coordinated with Lao authorities to detect and handle 1 case, 1 subject related to illegal drug trafficking and transportation.

Sop Cop District Police give gifts to Muong Et District Police.

In addition, investment promotion and international trade promotion activities are focused. In 2024, the district established a working delegation to attend the "Son La - Hua Phan Cultural Tourism Festival 2024" in Hua Phan province, Lao PDR; organized booths to introduce cultural and tourism products, local products, handicrafts, and traditional ethnic costumes. The district coordinated to guide the preparation and completion of applications for Vietnamese nationality for 44 cases of spontaneous migrants and unregistered marriages in the area.

Effectively implementing foreign affairs in the new situation, Sop Cop district continues to thoroughly grasp, propagate and effectively implement the Party's guidelines and the State's laws and policies on foreign affairs, international integration and territorial borders. Regularly exchange information, reach consensus in assessing the situation and closely coordinate with districts of the Lao PDR. Handle and resolve well incidents occurring in the area and incidents related to both sides of the border, building a peaceful, friendly, cooperative and developed border area.

According to: Son La Newspaper