NGHE AN (VNS)- The last marker identifying the Viet Nam-Laos border was inaugurated at a ceremony yesterday at the gate separating the Vietnamese town of Thanh Thuy in central Nghe An province and the Lao town of Nam On in Bolikhamsay province. The border marker – No. 460 - at the Thanh Thuy -Nam On gate, signals the completion of the project to increase and upgrade the border markers along the shared boundary. The event is of great significance as it helps to ensure border security and creates a border of peace, friendship, stability and cooperation for mutual development. This creates the best possible conditions for socio-economic development in both countries and in the border region in particular. The work underlines the extent of mutual trust and understanding reached by the two countries' Parties, States and people. It is a vivid symbol of the traditional friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive co-operation that exists between both countries. This is based on the principle of respecting the independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity and legitimate interests of both parties, as well as equality and common benefits for both peoples. Speaking at the ceremony, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung stressed that the Party, State and Government in both countries have always paid special attention to increasing and upgrading the border markers. "This is a common victory for both countries in building their border of peace, stability and cooperation for mutual development," he said. The event has created the right conditions for economic exchanges and cooperation between Nghe An and Bolikhamsay provinces while opening up new opportunities for economic, trade and investment links between businesses and investors from both countries, Dung added. According to the PM, the Thanh Thuy -Nam On gate is expected to become an attractive destination for investors and tourists from home and abroad. He described the projects completion as the fruit of the Viet Nam-Laos traditional friendship, as well as the faithful comradeship between the two countries. Sharing Dung's views, Lao Prime Minister Thongsing Thammavong said the project to increase and upgrade border markers along the two countries' shared border has contributed to improving living standards and reducing poverty for people residing in the border areas. He highly valued the efforts made by the Viet Nam-Laos Joint Committee on Border Marker Planting, the relevant ministries, branches, localities and border demarcation forces in carrying out the task. The PM confirmed the resolve of the Lao Government and people to join with the Vietnamese Government and people to create a border of eternal friendship, peace, stability and cooperation for mutual development. The two PMs called for close coordination and determination to fulfil the remaining parts of the work in 2014 agreed by senior leaders from both countries. Head of the Lao Border Committee Bun Kot Sang Som Sak, briefed the ceremony on the five years it took to finish the project. Along the 2,067km common boundary, 835 border markers have been planted in 793 positions, constituting a modern and solid marker system, he said. In the future, both countries will enhance their cooperation and promptly draw up and sign several legal documents including the Protocol on Border Demarcation and Marker Planting, the new Agreement on Border Management Regulations and the Viet Nam-Laos Border Gates and Border Gate Management Regulations in order to complete the entire project by 2014. The ten Vietnamese provinces are Dien Bien, Son La, Thanh Hoa, Nghe An, Ha Tinh, Quang Binh, Quang Tri, Thua Thien-Hue, Quang Nam and Kon Tum border 10 Lao provinces, Phongsaly, Luang Prabang, Houaphan, Bolikhamsay, Khammoune, Savannakhet, Salavan, Xiengkhouang, Sepon and Attapeu. The two countries first signed a 10-year agreement on border demarcation in July 1977. Over the following years, they planted 214 markers in 199 positions. The successful result was recognised in the protocol on border demarcation and border marker planting signed by the two neighbours in October 1987. In 2003, both parties completed a Viet Nam-Laos border map at a scale of 1/50,000. However, it became clear that the old marker system was no longer suitable as there were not enough markers. Furthermore, the markers had degraded significantly since being planted over 20 years before. - VNS |
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