Ceremony to establish fraternal ties between the Military Command of Song Ma District and the Military Command of Muong Et District (Lao People's Democratic Republic).

Annually, the District Military Command has advised the District Party Committee and the District People's Committee to strengthen foreign relations and diplomatic cooperation on military and defense matters with Muong Et District (Lao People's Democratic Republic). It directs the militia and reserve forces to coordinate with border guard posts to effectively manage and protect the national border; and focuses on disseminating information to the people regarding the regulations on the land border areas of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.

Lieutenant Colonel Hoang Van Nghia, Deputy Commander and Chief of Staff of the Song Ma District Military Command, said: "Our unit has established a fraternal relationship with the Muong Et District Military Command, regularly exchanging information on national defense and security; coordinating in force building, strategic planning, and exchanging expertise and professional skills. We hold a regular meeting once a year to evaluate results and set directions for the following year."

The Military Commands of the border communes have a firm grasp of the situation, promptly reporting and effectively handling various situations. From 2024 to the present, the two units have exchanged much valuable information; coordinating to create favorable conditions for Vietnamese delegations to search for and exhume the remains of Vietnamese volunteer soldiers who died in Laos during the war, ensuring their repatriation according to plan.

Officers and soldiers of the Muong Cai Border Guard Post and the commune's militia patrol the border.

The Song Ma District Military Command has also proactively proposed and recommended to competent authorities to pay attention to investing in infrastructure and facilities in communes and villages bordering Muong Et District. From 2024 to the present, the Song Ma District Military Command has provided cement and funding to the Muong Et District Military Command to repair facilities at the unit. At the same time, the military forces of both sides have coordinated to organize cultural, artistic, and sports exchange activities.

In addition, the Song Ma District Military Command directed the militia forces of the border communes to coordinate with the Chieng Khuong Border Gate Border Guard Station, the Muong Cai Border Guard Station, and the Na Ha Border Guard Station in Muong Et district to regularly organize bilateral patrols along the entire border system and national border markers. Mr. Song A Sau, Commander of the Muong Cai Commune Military Command, Song Ma District, said: The Command has proactively grasped the local situation, advised the commune Party Committee and government, and coordinated with the Muong Cai Border Guard Station to organize patrols, monitor the area, clear vegetation around border markers, and handle individuals who violate the law, contributing to maintaining political security and social order in the area.

Strengthening defense diplomacy between the Military Command of Song Ma District and the Military Command of Muong Et District has contributed to improving the level of planning and handling situations in the performance of military and defense tasks of both sides; maintaining a peaceful, friendly, cooperative and comprehensively developed border; and fostering the special solidarity and friendship between Vietnam and Laos in general and the armed forces of the two provinces and two districts in particular.

Text and photos: Mạnh Hùng