The Border Guard Command of Nghệ An Province signs a Memorandum of Understanding with the Military Commands of the three Lao provinces of Xiengkhuang, Bolikhamsai, and Houaphan in Nghệ An on Saturday. — VNA/VNS Photo Văn Tý

NGHỆ AN — The Nghệ An Provincial Border Guard Command on Saturday held talks with the Military Commands and Departments of Public Security of the three Lao provinces of Xiengkhuang, Bolikhamsai and Houaphanh, to review the border situation and discuss measures to enhance cooperation.

On this occasion, they signed memoranda of understanding, agreeing to step up coordination in managing and protecting the border, while tightening control of cross-border movement through border gates, trails and crossings to promptly detect and handle cases of illegal entry and exit and other violations, contributing to maintaining political security and social order and safety in border areas.

They will also enhance information sharing and situation assessment, coordinate efforts to counter hostile elements seeking to exploit ethnic and religious issues, prevent uncontrolled migration and illegal border crossings, and combat transnational crimes.

Particular attention will be paid to combating drug-related crimes and criminal rings and organisations operating across the border. Where necessary, the forces will establish joint investigations in accordance with each country's laws and international law.

The sides will also continue effectively implementing existing memoranda and agreements, coordinate to address emerging issues related to the border and border markers, and strengthen cooperation in disaster prevention and search and rescue.

They agreed to promote twinning relations between military units and border communities and maintain exchanges and mutual visits, helping to build a Việt Nam-Laos border of peace, friendship, stability, cooperation and sustainable development.

Since the beginning of the year, the Nghệ An Provincial Border Guard Command has coordinated with Lao border protection forces and local authorities of both sides to conduct two provincial-level bilateral patrols involving 30 officers and soldiers.

At the border post level, they have conducted 23 bilateral patrols, involving 126 officers and soldiers. The two sides have also carried out 87 unilateral patrols with 643 officers and soldiers, contributing to protecting the border line and markers and maintaining political security and social order and safety in border areas.

Immigration control and the fight against crime have also been strengthened. The two sides handled 12 cases involving 17 people who illegally crossed the border, collected and processed 35 pieces of information related to national security, and seized 3,200 synthetic drug tablets in two cases.

Authorities also handled cases involving smuggling and the transport of livestock without proper documentation, imposing a combined total of VNĐ697 million (US$26,700) in fines.

People-to-people ties have also been strengthened through the twinning programme between border communities. To date, the Nghệ An Provincial Border Guard Command has advised local authorities and coordinated with Lao authorities and relevant forces to establish twinning relations between 21 pairs of border villages.

In addition, 10 Vietnamese border guard posts have established twinning ties with eight Lao Border Guard Companies and two Border Gate Police Stations. — VNA/VNS