Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc stated that Party, State and Government leaders of Vietnam and Laos have always paid special attention to border and territory-related issues between the countries. 

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc speaks at the conference 

He was speaking at a conference reviewing the implementation of a master plan on increasing and upgrading Vietnam-Laos border markers in Hanoi on September 19. 

The PM said before the master plan, only one marker was installed every 10km and even 40km of the border line. There are now 1,002 border markers and more than 2,337 poles standing along the borderline, with most of them lying in mountainous areas having rough terrains.

The outcome is of significance as it serves as a foundation to complete a legal dossier for the Vietnam-Laos border line, he said. 

“The completion of the master plan is an important event which demonstrates the unity, mutual trust and understanding between the two Parties, States and peoples,” he said.

This work is also a vivid symbol of the special, long-standing friendship, solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and Laos, helping to facilitate exchanges of border residents, consolidate political security, social order and safety, and guarantee national defence and border security, PM Phuc said. 

He applauded efforts made by relevant Vietnamese ministries, agencies and ten border localities which have constructively participated in the work, and thanked the Lao Government, ministries, agencies and people for their cooperation and support during the implementation of the master plan. 

Talking about potential risks to regional and global security, PM Phuc underscored the need to build and protect the national border on the basis of equality and mutual respect, in line with international law. 

To improve the efficiency of border management in the new situation, the leader pointed to the necessity to carry forward outcomes of border marker planting and upgrading, take care of material and spiritual life of border residents, especially ethnic minorities living in difficult circumstances, preserve a border of peace, friendship and cooperation, and ensure security and order, with attention paid to drug crime combat. 

Vietnam and Laos should continue their collaboration in realising the protocol on borderline and border markers, and the agreement on land border and border checkpoint management mechanisms, he said. 

The PM also called for close coordination between Vietnamese and Lao ministries, agencies and localities in promoting trade, investment and tourism in the border areas. 

Efforts should be channeled into developing socio-economic infrastructure, especially in transport, and border gates, he said. 

Another important job is to raise public awareness of the significance of the border markers, he added. 

Vietnam-Laos borderline stretches as far as nearly 2,337km, through ten Vietnamese and ten Lao provinces. On July 18, 1977, the two countries concluded negotiations and signed the Convention on National Border Demarcation.   

Accordingly, from 1978-1987, both sides basically completed border demarcation in the field and settled emerging issues such as the transfer of land, people and assets in line with international law. 

From 2008-2016, they partnered to implement the project on increasing and upgrading Vietnam-Laos border markers, with the participation of more than 1,000 personnel. 

Deputy FM: Stable border areas contribute to Vietnam – Laos special ties

The stability and development of Vietnam-Laos border areas will contribute to strengthening solidarity between the two countries’ people and boosting social, economic and cultural development in border localities, said Deputy Foreign Minister Le Hoai Trung.

Trung, who is Chairman of the National Boundary Commission, made the remark during an interview recently granted to Vietnam News Agency. 

The interview came as a conference reviewing the implementation of the master plan on increasing and upgrading Vietnam-Laos border markers took place in Hanoi on September 19.

Asked about major points in the settlement of Vietnam-Laos border issues, Trung said the Vietnam-Laos borderline stretches as far as nearly 2,337km, through 10 Vietnamese and 10 Lao provinces. On July 18, 1977, Vietnam and Laos concluded negotiations and signed the Convention on National Border Demarcation. 

Accordingly, from 1978-1987, both sides basically completed border demarcation in the field and settled emerging issues such as the transfer of land, people and assets in line with international law. The results were hailed in the Supplementary Treaty to the 1976 Treaty on National Boundary Delimination signed on January 24, 1986 and the Protocol on border demarcation in the field and border marker planting inked on January 24, 1986 and the supplementary Protocol to the Protocol on border demarcation in the field and border marker planting signed on October 16, 1987. 

Since 1987, the two sides have devised a digital Vietnam-Laos national map at a scale of 1:50,000, dealt with all discrepancies in borderline, border markers and border sections, signed the Vietnam – Laos – China and Vietnam – Laos – Cambodia border conventions. 

From 2008-2016, the two countries partnered to implement the project on increasing and upgrading Vietnam-Laos border markers. There are now 1,002 border markers and posts at 905 positions, which are specified in the Protocol on Vietnam – Laos borderline and border markers signed on March 16, 2016. 

Regarding main contents of two Vietnam – Laos legal documents which took effect on September 5, 2017, Trung said the Protocol on Vietnam – Laos borderline and border markers signed on March 16, 2016 featured the outcomes of border demarcation and marker planting from 1977-1987, the settlement of several demarcation differences and the implementation of a project on increasing and upgrading Vietnam-Laos border markers for 2008-2016. 

The Agreement on Vietnam – Laos border and border gate management regulations comprises specific provisions regarding collaboration between the two countries’ agencies in managing and safeguarding borderline and border markers, handling border events and managing border gates to maintain security, social safety and order in border areas.

According to the official, the Vietnam – Laos border areas play a significant strategic role in the two countries’ national defence-security and socio-economic development. Therefore, ministries, agencies and localities should implement legal documents on border areas signed between the two countries in order to build a Vietnam-Laos borderline of peace, friendship, stability, cooperation and sustainable development.

VNA