Hanoi (VNA) – The 77th Mekong River joint patrol by China, Laos, Myanmar and Thailand began onDecember 18 from Guan Lei port, Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture insouthwest China's Yunnan province.
According to Yunnan province’s bureauof public security and border defense, the joint patrol will cover a range ofmore than 500 kilometers to enhance anti-terrorism capabilities, safeguardsecurity and crack down on cross-border crimes.
The patrol will includeanti-terrorism drills, police skill practices and an anti-drug campaign.
The joint patrols started inDecember 2011 after a gang of criminals hijacked two cargo ships and killed 13Chinese sailors in Thai waters on October 5, 2011.
The Mekong River is a vitalwaterway for cross-border shipping among China, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand,Cambodia and Vietnam.-VNA