The 20th Border Work Meeting between Son La Province
and Hua Phan province of the Lao People's Democratic Republic

Over the past period, under the leadership of the two Parties and Governments of Vietnam and Laos, the Party committees, authorities, and armed forces personnel and people of all ethnic groups in the two provinces have always upheld the tradition of special solidarity and friendship. They have strengthened comprehensive cooperation in socio-economic, defense, and security fields. The authorities of districts, communes, and villages in the border area, as well as the armed forces units of both sides, have regularly exchanged information, conducted patrols to protect the border and national boundary markers, and proactively resolved emerging issues such as encroachment, illegal settlement, illegal migration, and illegal border crossings. They have also proactively addressed emerging security and order issues in the border area, contributing to consolidating the special solidarity and friendship between Son La and Hua Phan provinces, and between Vietnam and Laos, ensuring political stability and border security.

Comrade Hoang Quoc Khanh, Chairman of the People's Committee of Son La province
Speaking at the conference

 Furthermore, the authorities of both sides have facilitated the flow of essential goods across the border to serve the lives of the people. Permissions have been granted for over 90,000 people and vehicles to enter between the two sides. Trade has resulted in over 4,000 tons of agricultural products and construction materials to meet the needs of the people in both provinces. Alongside this, cooperation in economic, cultural, social, defense, and security development, as well as cooperation between specialized agencies and local governments of the two provinces, continues to be actively promoted.

Comrade Phut Phan-Keo Vong Xay, Deputy Governor of Hua Phan Province
Speaking at the Conference

In the coming period, both sides agreed to jointly promote the implementation of the two legal documents on the Vietnam-Laos border; the Party's guidelines and policies, and the laws of the two states on border affairs. They will continue to coordinate more closely in monitoring the situation in the border region, regularly exchanging information on security and order to promptly resolve incidents and stabilize the security and order situation in the border area. Building a peaceful and friendly border will contribute to the economic, cultural, and social development, and strengthen the national defense and security of both provinces. They will continue to request the governments of both countries to pay attention to investing in infrastructure and completing construction projects to soon ensure the conditions for upgrading the main Pa Háng (Hủa Phăn) border gate to an international border gate.

The provinces of Son La and Hua Phan signed a memorandum of understanding.
20th Border Work Meeting

The two provinces continue to direct relevant agencies to research and advise on the development of mechanisms and prioritize investment in implementing socio-economic development projects in the border areas of the two provinces. This aims to encourage and facilitate businesses from both sides to explore the market and conduct cooperative production and business activities in the border region, contributing to the promotion of the traditional solidarity and close relationship between the Party committees, governments, and people of the two provinces.

At the conference, the two sides also signed the minutes of the 20th Border Work Meeting.

Cam Giang - Le Hong