upgrade and increase of Vietnam-Laos field border markers
The Vietnamese and Laos Prime Ministers have appreciated the completion of the upgrade and increase of Vietnam-Laos field border markers, considering it a vivid symbol of the traditional friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between the two nations.
During their July 8 meeting in Vinh city, the central province of Nghe An on the threshold of a ceremony to mark the completion at Thanh Thuy-Nam On Border Gate, PM Dung and his Lao counterpart Thongsin Thammavong affirmed to continue instructing their competent agencies to jointly complete the whole project by 2014.
PM Dung congratulated the Lao Government and people on their stable political security, the country’s fast developing economy with a growth rate of 8.2 percent and its broadened foreign relations and higher position in the international arena.
He wished the Lao people will harvest greater achievements in their national construction and development.
For his part, PM Thammavong thanked the Vietnamese Party, State, Government and people for their pure, great and effective support and assistance for Laos .
The Lao Party, Government and people pledge to, together with Vietnam , nurture the great friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between the two countries, he affirmed.
The two leaders affirmed to guide relevant agencies to work closely towards the completion of the project to upgrade and increase the border markers by 2014.
During the meeting, the two PMs also exchanged views on bilateral ties and international issues of common concern.
The same day, Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh granted an interview to the press on the occasion of the completion of the upgrade and increase of Vietnam-Laos border markers in the field.
He said that thanks to the efforts of both countries, after five year of implementing the project, Vietnam and Laos officially completed the increase and upgrade of border markers along their border, positioning 835 border markers in 793 locations and 20 benchmark pillars.
The accomplishment of the work in the field is a great victory of special significance, creating a premise for the next stage of finalising legal documents so that the whole project may be completed in 2014, he said.
Since now, the modern and clear border marker system will create favourable conditions for the border management and protection, trade and investment cooperation, people-to-people exchange as well as cultural and tourism exchanges between the two countries’ border areas, he noted.
It will contribute to consolidating political security, social order and safety, border security and defence while boosting the friendship and comprehensive cooperation between the two neighbours, he added.
According to FM Minh, the event will go into the history of both countries as a fruit of the Vietnam-Laos special cooperation, manifesting a high consensus, mutual trust and understanding between the two Parties, States and peoples.
It is a vivid symbol of the traditional friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between the two countries based on the principle of respecting either side’s independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity and legitimate interests, as well as equality and common benefits for a border of peace, stability and cooperation for mutual development and interests of the two peoples, he said.-VNA
The last border marker on the Vietnam-Laos borderline will be inaugurated at a ceremony at the gate separating the Vietnamese town of Thanh Thuy in Nghe An province and the Lao town of Nam On in Bolykhamsay province on July 9.
Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung and his Lao counterpart Thongsing Thammavong will attend the ceremony to celebrate the completion of building border markers along the two countries’ shared border, which is seen as a key component of their cooperation for development.
Vietnam and Laos share a border line of 2,067km which runs across 10 Vietnamese provinces: Dien Bien, Son La, Thanh Hoa, Nghe An, Ha Tinh, Quang Binh, Quang Tri, Thua Thien-Hue, Quang Nam and Kon Tum. The line also passes 10 Lao provinces: Phongsaly, Luang Prabang, Houaphan, Bolykhamsay, Khammoune, Savannakhet, Salavan, Xiengkhouang, Sepon and Attapeu.
The two countries first signed a 10-year agreement on border demarcation in July 1977. During the following period, the two sides 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, the two sides completed a Vietnam-Laos border map at a scale of 1/50,000. However, at that time it became clear that the old marker system was no longer suitable to meet the requirements, when the density of markers was too low (214 markers in 199 positions along a 2,067km long border). Furthermore, the markers had degraded significantly since their planting over 20 years before.
Leaders of the two countries agreed to implement a project to restore and add new border markers along their border between the 2008-2014 period. This has been widely seen as one of the most important cooperation activities between the two countries in their recent history.
The project aimed to add more markers in necessary positions to clearly identify the borderline on the field and to restore and build new markers, especially at border gates, to ensure a solid marker system.
The project started on September 5, 2008 with the building of marker 605 at the Lao Bao-Densavan border gate. Work was scheduled for completion in June 2013, by which point the total number of border markers between Vietnam and Laos would be 835 in 793 positions.
Despite some brief delays, the work is now nearing its end. The two sides will next adjust the border map and compile a new protocol on the borderline between the two countries. They will finish legal documents recognising the border marker planting achievements in 2014.
Leaders have declared that new markers will improve border management, consolidate the security and defence of both nations, facilitate socio-economic development in border areas and create an environment of peace, friendship and cooperation along the borderline between Vietnam and Laos.
Border cooperation–symbol of Vietnam-Laos special relations
The land border marker planting and upgrading project reflects the special friendship and solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and Laos, making their border cooperation an example for other neighbouring countries.
Lao Deputy Foreign Minister Bounkeut Sangsomsak made the remark in his interview granted to the Vietnam News Agency in Vientiane on July 4.
He stressed that the celebration for the completion land border marker planting in the field marks a great milestone in the two countries’ relations.
The project is to build a borderline of peace, friendship, stability and long-term cooperation, as well as strengthen mutual trust, security and order along the border, he said.
It also aims to clearly determine the shared borderline, which is a patrimony for future generations of both nations, he added.
Under the project, Vietnam and Laos upgraded and increased land markers along their entire 2,067-km shared border.
According to the Lao official, the completion of the project will foster all-level cooperation between Vietnam and Laos, and gradually improve the livelihood of people living in the border areas.
Deputy FM Sangsomsak applauded the two countries’ Border Committees, relevant agencies and local authorities to overcome all difficulties and hardships to complete the project on schedule.
In addition to the field work, the two sides are rushing to complete legal profile and documents for border demarcation by late 2014, he added.
The diplomat called on the two countries’ officials and people to together protect the shared border, making it a symbol of the special friendship and solidarity between Vietnam and Laos .
He expressed his deep gratitude to the Vietnamese Party, State and people for their support and assistance to the completion of the border marker planting in the field.