Leaders of Sop Cop district and Muong Et, Muong Son, and Phon Thong districts (Lao People's Democratic Republic) signed a memorandum of understanding. Photo: PV.

Ms. Tong Thi Kien, Vice Chairman of the District People's Committee, said: Since 2007, the district has signed agreements on cooperation with other districts sharing a common border. Both sides work together to build, protect, and cultivate solidarity, friendship, and a special tradition of comprehensive cooperation. They strengthen the dissemination of information about the cultural traditions of the Vietnamese and Lao people, educating officials, Party members, and the people to preserve and cultivate the special friendship and cooperative relationship between the Party committees, governments, armed forces, and people on both sides of the border.

In addition, Sop Cop district and the districts of the Lao People's Democratic Republic regularly exchange information and hold periodic meetings, reporting on each other's situations and signing memoranda of understanding on comprehensive cooperation in the fields of economy, culture, education, defense, and security. The district directs border communes and villages to coordinate with the Nam Lanh, Muong Lan, and Muong Leo Border Guard Posts to proactively maintain contact and exchange information with the functional forces of Laos; and strengthen measures to promptly combat and prevent violations of the Vietnam-Laos Border Agreement and Regulations signed by the two countries. During the traditional Bunpimay New Year, the district organizes delegations to visit or send congratulatory letters to officials and people of the districts sharing a common border.

Leaders of Sop Cop district present gifts to Muong Et district, Hua Phan province (Lao People's Democratic Republic).

The district directs border communes, military forces, police, and border guards to strictly control exit and entry activities. It strengthens coordination and information exchange to promptly detect, combat, and resolve issues arising in border areas, preventing them from escalating into "hot spots" that complicate security and order. It directs border guard posts to strengthen unilateral and bilateral patrols and controls to protect the border, border markers, and other border infrastructure within the district.

In 2024, in coordination with Border Guard Companies 161 and 211 (of the Lao People's Democratic Republic), 10 bilateral patrols and 83 unilateral patrols were conducted to protect the border and boundary markers, combined with the restoration of existing markers. Through patrol and control activities, the border and boundary marker system remained intact, with no signs of encroachment detected, and national territorial sovereignty and border security were protected and maintained.

The Nam Lanh Border Guard Station in Sop Cop district, in coordination with Border Guard Company 211 (Lao People's Democratic Republic), inspected the border markers.

Lieutenant Colonel Dinh Van Quang, Commander of the Nam Lanh Border Guard Station, said: "The unit regularly exchanges information and intelligence with Border Guard Company 211 in carrying out border protection duties, managing and controlling immigration, combating crime, and resolving incidents related to both sides of the border. In 2024, the unit coordinated six bilateral patrols; and in cooperation with functional forces of Laos, detected and handled one case involving one individual related to the illegal buying, selling, and transportation of narcotics."

The police of Sop Cop district presented gifts to the police of Muong Et district.

In addition, investment promotion and international trade promotion activities have been emphasized. In 2024, the district established a delegation to attend the "Son La - Hua Phan Cultural Tourism Festival 2024" in Hua Phan province, Lao People's Democratic Republic; organized exhibition booths showcasing cultural and tourism products, local specialties, handicrafts, and traditional ethnic costumes. The district also coordinated and guided the preparation and completion of applications for Vietnamese citizenship for 44 individuals who were free migrants or married without legal registration in the area.

To effectively implement foreign relations in the new situation, Sop Cop district continues to thoroughly understand, disseminate, and effectively implement the Party's guidelines and the State's policies and laws on foreign affairs, international integration, and border and territorial issues. It regularly exchanges information, reaches consensus on assessments and evaluations, and closely coordinates with districts of the Lao People's Democratic Republic. It effectively handles and resolves incidents occurring within the district and those related to the two sides of the border, building a peaceful, friendly, cooperative, and developing border region.

Source: Son La Newspaper