An Giang (VNA) – The Mekong Delta province ofAn Giang and the neighbouring Cambodian province of Kandal held a meeting onSeptember 11 to review bilateral cooperation, noting positive outcomes in theirrelations in multiple spheres.

The meeting, held in the Vietnamese province,was co-chaired by Chairman of the An Giang People’s Committee Vuong Binh Thanhand Kandal Governor Mao Phirun.

They highlighted the progress in collaborationto ensure security and order along the shared border, and in their partnershipin economy-trade, agriculture, culture, tourism, health care, education andtransport. They said the two sides have also seen increased cooperation betweentheir organisations, courts and districts, as well as in border demarcation andmarker planting and the search for and repatriation of the remains of Vietnam’svoluntary soldiers in Cambodia.

To keep a border of peace and stability,friendly neighbourliness and cooperation for common development between thecountries, An Giang and Kandal have exchanged information in a timely manner,conducted joint patrols, protected the borderline and border markers, respectedeach other’s independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity, and effectivelydealt with law violations like illegal border crossing or smuggling, therebyhelping to ensure social order – safety and border security and promote localdevelopment.

The officials discussed and agreed on many cooperationareas for the time ahead, including intensifying the protection of security, socialorder and safety along the border; facilitating the development of bordergates’ economic zones; creating favourable conditions for the travel of the twosides’ residents; investing in infrastructure building; and sharing informationabout environmental protection and water resource management in their borderareas.

The two provinces also agreed to continuepermitting the temporary import for re-export by non-commercial vehicles while acceleratingthe construction of goods depots at the Khanh Binh border gate of An Giang, theChrey Thom border gate of Kandal and other border gates. They will furtherconsider allowing their residents to use laissez-passers to cross the border.

An Giang and Kandal will also push on with therepatriation of the remains of Vietnam’s voluntary soldiers and experts wholaid down their lives in Cambodia.

Meanwhile, the An Giang Committee of theVietnamese Fatherland Front, the Kandal Committee of the SolidarityFront for the Development of Cambodia Motherland, and other massorganisations in the two provinces will reinforce cooperation in furtherdisseminating policies, border-related law and information about humantrafficking combat.

The two sides will also work together to raiselocal residents’ awareness about law and adherence to border-relatedagreements, conventions and regulations, while boosting cultural and economicexchanges. –VNA