Binh Phuoc province is located in the Southern key economic region, bordering the Kingdom of Cambodia with a border line of 258.939 km. It is the gateway and at the same time a bridge connecting the Southeast region with the Central Highlands and Cambodia. As hosting many crucial traffic routes, it has an important position in terms of economy, society, defence, security and foreign affairs. The province is rich in natural resources, especially vast land, forests, minerals which are favourable for socio-economic development,... with large border areas, including 15 border communes in the districts of: Loc Ninh, Bu Dop, Bu Gia Map. It is home to 18 ethnic groups in which ethnic minorities account for nearly 30%. Although the province possesses several favourable conditions for trade and immigration, it also counters several potential risks of instability in politics, social order and safety due to sabotage activities of hostile forces; illegal missionary; smuggling; drug trafficking. Moreover, it faces many difficulties in border management and protection, especially the control of entry and exit, because ethnic minorities on both sides of the border have long-standing and complicated relationships, low living standards while their educational levels are uneven... Implementing its assigned functions and tasks amid these difficulties, the Party Committee and Command of the Provincial Border Guard have advised the Provincial Party Committee and People's Committee to conduct a comprehensive survey to firmly grasp the current situation and make suitable plan, together with other forces, build a border area of peace, friendship, cooperation and development. In which, attention is paid to building, consolidating and improving the operational efficiency of the political system in the border areas. As a result, the leadership capacity of party committees and governance capacity of authorities at all levels in border areas have been increasingly improved; the role of socio-political organisations has been promoted, contributing to firmly protecting national sovereignty and border security; preventing and combating all types of crimes; promoting socio-economic development and building strong border areas.

To achieve the above results, first of all, the Party Committee and the Command of the Provincial Border Guard strengthen leadership and direction of border stations’ participation in building strong party organisations in border areas. Thoroughly grasping and implementing Conclusion No. 68-KL/TW, dated 5 February 2020 of the Secretariat and Instruction No. 31-HD/BTCTW, dated 1 July 2020 of the Central Organisarional Commission, the Party Committee and Command of the Provincial Border Guard have thoroughly advised the Provincial Party Standing Committee on the promulgation and implementation of Regulation No. 1540-QD/TU, 3 dated September 2019 on "Responsibilities, tasks, and working relationships of border guard party members in activities in party cells of village and hamlet in border communes"; Plan No. 10-KH/TU, dated 9 December 2020 on "Implementing the policy of increasing the number of commissioners who are border guard station officers in the border districts and communes". Accepted by the local Party Committees, the Provincial Border Guard has required its affiliated stations to sign coordination regulations with 15 border commune party committees. At the same time, it has selected and introduced capable officers of border guard stations to the Party Committees of border districts and communes. To successfully complete this important task, the Party Committee and Command of the Provincial Border Guard require the reinforced officers to pay regular attention to consolidating and improving the operational efficacy of party committees and organisations; help Party committees and organisations regularly supplement the system of leadership regulations, working regulations, issue resolutions, and generate source of cadres for the grassroots governments; gradually improve the quality of Party's meetings; strictly comply with the principle of democratic centralism, innovate leadership and direction manner, etc. In order to achieve the long-term goal of developing on-the-spot cadres, especially the local ethnic ones, the Provincial Border Guard has advised the Party Committee and authorities to eye the potential individuals for party members and cadres right from the recruitment procedures every year; coordinate with localities to open Party-familiarisation and defence-security courses for commune-level cadres. As a result, the leadership capacity and overall power of the commune-level Party Committee and village cells are being increasingly improved, meeting the requirements of local leadership work. Border base.

Implementing Resolution No. 16-NQ/TW, dated 10 October 2017 of the Politburo, Resolution No. 20/NQ-CP, dated 17 August 2018 of the Government on socio-economic development of land border communes combined with strengthening and consolidating national defence, security and foreign affairs, the Provincial Border Guard has proactively advised the Provincial Party Committee and Provincial People's Council and coordinated with the districts of Loc Ninh, Bu Dop and Bu Gia Map to select officers of border guard stations to stand in for elections of delegates of people’s Councils at district and commune levels. The elected ones have made important contributions to the People's Councils in deciding on urgent local issues; supervising the implementation of policies and solutions for socio-economic development, strengthening national defence and security, especially in construction, management and protection of border sovereignty and security; regularly maintain close contact with voters, persuade people to well implement the Party's guidelines and policies, and the State's laws; regularly listen to the aspiration and confession of the people and try to solve the pressing issues in the area, thereby grasping their thoughts and promptly solve their legitimate petitions, contributing to earning people's trust in the local government.

Thoroughly understanding Directive No. 01/CT-TTg, dated 9 January 2015 of the Government on "All people participating in protecting territorial sovereignty and national border security in the new situation", in recent years, the Provincial Border Guard has paid special attention to the consolidating and improving the quality of operation of socio-political organisations in the border area, focusing on building the Fatherland Front, Youth’s Union, Women's Union, and Veterans’ Association strong. To improve the effectiveness of mass mobilisation work, building great national unity, and creating consensus in society; well performing the functions and tasks of supervision and social criticism, maintaining and promoting Patriotic emulation movement in border areas of the Fatherland Front, the Party Committee and Command of the Provincial Border Guard has directed the border guard stations to advise and coordinate with the Fatherland Fronts of border districts and communes to introduce border guard station officers to act as member of the Fatherland Fronts at district and commune levels. At the same time, they have also advised the local Party Committee and authorities to effectively implement the plans and instructions of higher echelons on the implementation of the All-People's Border Guard Day. To date, border guard stations have coordinated with the Fatherland Fronts of communes to advise the People's Committees of border communes to instruct 33 collectives and 208 households to participate in the movement of "Self-management of borders and national landmarks". Along with that, they have also mobilised and gathered a large number of members for the unions and Veterans’ Associations, contributing to building strong organisations; advise the Party Committee and People's Committees of communes to effectively implement the programmes "Warm homes for the poor at the border", "Breed cows for the poor at the border", "For community health", "Helping children’s schooling", "Adoptees of the Border Guard stations"; the movement "Border Guards joining hand in building new rural areas". Continue to promote the models "Breeding goats for the poor", "Security teams at villages", "Reconciliation teams", contributing to the successful implementation of economic development goals and defence and security tasks, the Patriotic emulation movements, local campaigns, strengthening people's trust in the Party and governments at all levels.

Senior Colonel HOANG VAN THANH, Political Commissar of the Provincial Border Guard Command