National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan (Source: VNA).

As part of activities celebrating the 73rd anniversary of August Revolution and National Day (September 2), towards the 60th anniversary of Traditional Day of Border Guard Force and the 30th anniversary of the Day of All-People Border Defence (March 3, 2019), the event saw the largest number of foreign guests. Besides delegations from the defence and public security ministries of China, Laos, Cambodia, four delegations from the ministries of national defence and home affairs of Thailand and Myanmar joined the event for the first time.

The exchange aimed to strengthen defence diplomacy, providing a platform for participants to share experience in safeguarding border areas and gates, thus fostering close relations among countries.

Speaking at the event, National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan said the presence of the foreign delegates reflects the shared concern and responsibility of Vietnamese border guards and their counterparts from the Greater Mekong Sub-region (GMS) for the region’s future and stable development.

Vietnam, China, Laos, Cambodia, Thailand and Myanmar share the Mekong River as well as aspirations for peace, stability and prosperity, she said, expressing wish that border guards in the GMS will work more closely and effectively together in diverse areas, including preventing and fighting trans-border crimes, post-disaster search and rescue, natural resources management, protection of Mekong River water resource, building a borderline of peace, cooperation and development.

A highlight of the exchange was dialogues with participating leaders of border guard forces with stories about national defence and border defence diplomacy, protection of border sovereignty and security, and assistance for locals in border areas.

Participants were treated to music performances and documentaries featuring the landscapes, culture and customs of regional countries.

Source: VNA