Vietnam and Laos vow to ensure security along shared border

The agreement was reached during annual talks for 2023 co-chaired by Lieutenant General Le Duc Thai, Commander of the Border Guard Command of Vietnam and Major General Siphan Phoutthavong, Director of the Border Guard Department of Laos, held in Luang Prabang on October 24.

They agreed to strengthen coordination in border management and protection, and conduct regular joint patrols to detect, prevent and stop law-breaking violations, terrorist attacks and subversive plots aimed at undermining the special solidarity between the two countries.

They will work closely to crack down on crimes and violations along shared border areas, such as drug smuggling, trade fraud, illegal trading of weapons and explosives, human trafficking, cross-border gambling, money laundry, and illegal immigration.

The two sides also agreed to regularly share information, launch communication campaigns on hostile forces’ subversive schemes, and raise awareness of law observance among border area residents.

At the end of the talks, the two sides signed a document on border guard cooperation between the Ministries of National Defense of Vietnam and Laos, and the minutes of their talks on October 24.