“Building and defending national borders is part and parcel of the national defence strategy and a joint effort by the entire Party, army and people,” said Mr Manh. “People of different ethnic groups in the border and island areas play an important role in fulfilling this task.”

He acknowledged that over the past years, the awareness of the responsibility to work toward national defence and security among officials and people, including those living in border and island areas, has been enhanced. The political system in the border and island areas has been strengthened at grassroots level. Border management and defence unites people of ethnic groups to overcome difficulties and firmly defend and maintain national sovereignty, territorial integrity and border security, contributing to creating a peaceful and stable environment for national development while strengthening friendship and cooperation with neighbouring countries, as well as others in the region and other parts of the world.

He highlighted the recent completion of border demarcation and marker planting between Vietnam and China, the ongoing progress in border demarcation and marker planting between Vietnam and Cambodia, and between Vietnam and Laos as important events, laying a firm legal foundation for ensuring national security and territorial integrity at present and in the future.

He said he hopes that officials and village chiefs will continue to encourage local people to abide by the State law, work closely with the border guard to maintain security and order in their region and to develop friendly relations with people in neighbouring countries.

VietNamNet/VOV