Vietnamese, Lao border provinces deepen counternarcotics cooperation

The 22nd annual conference on cross-border counternarcotics cooperation between Vietnamese and Lao border provinces was held in Son La province on July 23, bringing together officials from Vietnam's Dien Bien, Son La, Thanh Hoa and Nghe An provinces, and the Lao provinces of Houaphanh, Phongsaly, Luang Prabang and Xieng Khouang.

Son La hosts the 22nd cross-border counternarcotics conference.

Among those attending were Lo Minh Hung, Chairman of the Son La provincial People's Council; Dang Ngoc Hau, Vice Chairman of the provincial People's Committee; Major General Nguyen Minh Tuan, Director of the provincial Department of Public Security; officials from Dien Bien, Thanh Hoa and Nghe An and the Lao provinces; and representatives of the Vietnam Border Guard High Command and the Vietnamese Ministry of Public Security. 

Delegates at the conference.
Delegates at the conference.
Lo Minh Hung, Chairman of the Son La provincial People's Council, speaks at the conference.

In his welcoming remarks, Hung said hosting the conference was an honour for Son La and reflected the participating provinces' commitment to further strengthening cooperation in combating drug-related crime. The official said he expects the conference to reach consensus on key initiatives and adopt measures to enhance cross-border counternarcotics coordination, helping preserve peace and stability along the shared border while reinforcing the Vietnam-Laos special relationship.

Under a memorandum of understanding signed at the 21st conference, authorities and law enforcement agencies from the eight provinces have stepped up cooperation on crime prevention and counternarcotics efforts. The two sides have maintained regular rotating talks, exchanged information and coordinated in responding to issues arising along the shared border, helping safeguard security and public order, support socio-economic development and strengthen the longstanding friendship between Vietnam and Laos.

Law enforcement agencies have also intensified joint operations targeting drug trafficking in border and adjacent areas, carried out a number of major investigations and expanded existing cases, and apprehended wanted suspects, thus curbing drug-related crime along the border.

The Vice Chairman of the Nghe An People's Committee delivers remarks at the conference.

The leaders of the eight provinces signed the 22nd memorandum of understanding, reaffirming their commitment to enhancing coordination in cross-border drug prevention and control. The agreement calls for closer cooperation to strengthen political systems, promote socio-economic development in border areas, expand public awareness campaigns and the "drug-free villages" initiative, enhance information sharing, and step up joint efforts to dismantle cross-border drug trafficking networks.

The parties also agreed to maintain the annual consultation mechanism. The 23rd conference will be hosted by Laos' Houaphanh province in 2027.

Leaders of the eight provinces sign the 22nd memorandum of understanding.
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