Vietnam-Laos border marker project receives a boost
PM Nguyen Tan Dung and his Lao counterpart Thongsin Thammavong have said they will instruct their agencies to complete a joint border marker project in 2014 as scheduled.
Meeting in Vinh city on July 8, Dung and Thammavong said the completion of the upgrade and increase of Vietnam-Laos field border markers testifies to the traditional friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between the two countries.
Vietnam and Laos will hold a ceremony on July 9 to mark the completion of the upgrade and increase of their field border markers and unveil benchmark pillar No460 at Thanh Thuy-Nam On Border Gate.
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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% and its broadened foreign relations and higher position in the international arena.
He believed 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.
During the meeting, the two PMs also exchanged views on bilateral ties and international issues of common concern.
In an interview granted to the press the same day, Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh said that 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.
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.