Illustrative image (Source: Internet)Hanoi (VNA) – The twinning relationship between border villages of the northern province of Son La and Houaphan province of Laos has helped foster cultural exchange and experience sharing in economic development between the two border localities.
The model was initiated in 2013 by Son La’s border guard force.
According to Lo Van Lien, head of Keo Muong village, Phieng Khoai commune, Yen Chau district of Son La, since it twinned with Keo Lom village of Houaphan, the two villages’ residents have frequently held sports exchanges and shared experience in cultivation and breeding.
Vi Xuan Chua, Secretary of the Party Committee of Phieng Khoai commune said the two sides’ twinned villages have effectively coordinated in educating locals on the close relationship between the two Parties and States, ensuring political security, and safeguarding the shared border.
They have also cooperated with authorized agencies in popularising the guidelines and policies of the two states among locals.
As many as seven pairs of villages of the two provinces have set up twinning ties so far. They have supported each other in socio-economic development, thus raising the locals’ spiritual lives.
Since 2013, medical stations in Vietnam’s border communes have provided check-ups and treatment for 959 Lao people. The Vietnamese localities have also helped their Lao peers with breeding animals and plants, office equipment and construction materials.
Colonel Nguyen Van Viet, deputy political commissar of the Son La Border Guard High Command said the model contributes to raising awareness of the two provinces’ residents of the Vietnam-Laos time-honoured relations and issues relating to border demarcation, thus deepening the friendship between the two nations. It also helps prevent cross-border crimes, he added.-VNA
