National Assembly (NA) Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan applauded efforts to fight drug crimes and promote people-to-people exchanges with Laos by border guards of the Tay Trang International Border Gate while visiting the northwestern province of Dien Bien on March 12^th.

She recognised the border guards’ dedication to safeguarding the national sovereignty along the 24.5km Vietnam-Laos border and 10 border markers under their management.

They have done a good job of people-to-people and defence diplomacy in the area which is contiguous with Muang May district of Phongsali province and Muang Ngoy district of Luang Prabang province of Laos.

National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan visits border guards of the Tay Trang International Border Gate on March 12^th. (Photo: VNA)

She noted improvements in Na U commune, where the border guard post is located and once faced complex security issues, especially drug crimes. The post has worked closely with local authorities to disseminate the Party’s guidelines and policies and the State’s laws and assist local residents in socio-economic development.

Applauding the border guards’ success in cracking down on drug crimes and smuggling, the NA leader asked the border guards to push ahead with crime combat, along with poverty reduction and the Party and political system reinforcement.

Lieutenant Colonel Phuong Cong Quy – Commander of the border guard post of Tay Trang border gate – said the local social order and safety and border security have been ensured, adding that they have enhanced activities to help improve local living standards such as giving advice about crop and livestock farming and sponsoring disadvantaged students.

At a working session with the People’s Committee of Noong Het commune, NA Chairwoman Ngan recognised achievements by Noong Het, which is one of the first communes of Dien Bien to fulfill all 19 criteria of a new-style rural area.

With fertile soil and good climate conditions, Noong Het should keep the cultivation area of its rice specialty while working harder to become an organic agricultural hub. It also needs to conserve local cultural identities and plant more Ban (Bauhinia variegate) trees, which are deemed a symbol of the northwestern region, so as to attract tourists, she said.

Also on same day, the top legislator paid homage to heroic martyrs at the Dien Bien martyrs’ cemetery near Hill A1 – a relic of the Battle of Dien Bien Phu which defeated France and ended its colonial rule in Indochina in 1954.

She also visited the resettlement areas of Doi Cao and Noong Bua to learn about locals’ aspirations./.

VNF/VNA