Border guard diplomacy is a vital part of the national defence policy, which is one of the pillars of state diplomacy, contributing to building the national border of peace, friendship, cooperation, and mutual development. The Provincial Border Guard (PBG) of Binh Phuoc has focused on this central task by taking synchronous and effective measures in its leadership, direction and implementation.

Binh Phuoc province shares 258.939 km of its border with the provinces of Mondulkiri, Kratie, and Tboung Khmum of Cambodia, which is a favourable condition for trade and immigration. However, there are potential risks of instability in political security and social order and safety, such as subversive activities of hostile forces, illegal missionary, drug smuggling and possession, etc. Besides, ethnic groups on both sides of the border have complicated kinship and family relationships as well as harsh living conditions and unequal educational levels, etc., which have posed many challenges to border management and protection, especially the control of immigration and border guard diplomacy. Therefore, very high requirements for border guard work in general and border guard diplomacy, in particular, have been set. Meanwhile, the foreign language proficiency of the officers is limited, and the Covid-19 pandemic is complicated and prolonged. Being faced with these difficulties, to manage and firmly protect the sovereignty and security of the national border, the PBG’s Party Committee and Command have focused on leadership, direction and comprehensive implementation of all aspects by taking synchronous measures, in which, importance is attached to well implementing border guard diplomacy, maintaining solidarity with Cambodian authorities and border guard force, thus contributing to the construction, management, and firm protection of border areas.

First, the PBG maintains the effectiveness and efficiency of the leadership, direction, and administration of party committees and commanders at all levels on border guard diplomacy. By thoroughly grasping the guidelines and policies of the Party, the State, and the Army on border guard policy as well as the directives, orders, plans, and instructions on this work, the PBG’s Party Committee issued a leadership resolution, in which border guard diplomacy is identified as a central task with specific targets, requirements, and measures. On that basis, the PBG Command develops specific implementation plans suitable to the tasks and characteristics of the localities and units. The province requires agencies, units, posts, and stations to concretise into implementation resolutions and plans on this work, which is comprehensive and in accordance with policies and principles. Following that direction, the PBG has closely coordinated with Cambodian authorities and border guard force to well implement border guard diplomacy. In particular, following higher echelons’ direction, the PBG has coordinated with departments, agencies, and branches to advise the Provincial Party Committee and Provincial People’s Committee to develop thematic resolutions and implementation plans. Besides, the PBG also acted as the core force in the success of the first “Vietnam – Cambodia Border Defence Friendship Exchange” programme, which was highly appreciated by higher echelons and Cambodian counterparts. To promote the results, in the coming time, localities, border guard posts and stations promote border meetings and exchanges with the Cambodian border guard force. At the same time, the PBG directs border guard posts to establish relationships and closely coordinate with Cambodian counterparts to manage, protect and prevent illegal immigration as well as to organise diplomatic activities and celebrations of holidays and Tet holidays, thus creating a peaceful and friendly atmosphere in border areas.

Binh Phuoc Provincial Border Guard provides allowances for the border guard force of Tboung Khmum province (Photo: bienphong.com.vn)

In order to maintain stability in all aspects in the border areas, the PBG well coordinates with the Cambodian border management and protection forces. Due to the complicated and prolonged Covid-19 pandemic, which had a significant impact on the coordination between our border guard and the Cambodian counterpart, the PBG flexibly applied coordination measures to maintain and improve the efficiency of management and protection of the shared border between the two countries. As a result, in 2021 and the first two quarters of 2022, the provincial border guards of the two countries have directly met and exchanged the situation on the border 17 times. On the occasion of Cambodia’s Chol Chnam Thmay New Year, the PBG sent a congratulation letter to the provincial management and border guard forces of Cambodia; meanwhile, the PBG also directed its posts to send letters and organised small-scale meetings on the border to congratulate and present gifts worth 82 million VND to Cambodian border guard forces. To improve the effectiveness of the prevention and control of the Covid-19 pandemic, the PBG’s Command donated medical supplies worth 270 million VND to the Police Companies of three provinces, namely Kratie, Mundulkiri, and Tboungkhmum. From that result, the province continues to maximise the role of border guard forces in the area, closely coordinate with Cambodian border guard forces, actively carry out bilateral patrols, and prevent and control all kinds of crimes in border areas. Among those, importance is attached to the propaganda and education for people on both sides of the border about the regulations in border areas, and the improvement of the coordination efficiency in inspecting, controlling and handling illegal immigration, etc., which contribute to maintaining the security, order, and safety in the areas managed by the PBG.

To promote its role as the core force in implementing border guard work, the PBG has actively participated in local diplomatic activities. Along with actively advising the Provincial Party Committee and the Provincial People’s Committee on many policies and measures to lead and direct diplomacy work, the PBG’s Command also participated in and ensured the safety of the local delegation that congratulated the authorities and armed forces of Cambodia’s adjacent provinces and districts on the occasion of Chol Chnam Thmay New Year; joining the provincial leaders to welcome the provincial delegations of the Kingdom of Cambodia to visit, work and congratulate our New Year; welcoming and exchanging with the delegations of the three neighbouring provinces of Cambodia. Following the direction of the Provincial People’s Committee, the PBG’s Command closely coordinated with the Provincial Youth Union to donate medical supplies and necessities to the Military sub-zone and the Gendarmerie Command of Kratie province; coordinated with the Provincial Military Command and the Department of Foreign Affairs to present gifts to the armed forces and Vietnamese Cambodians community living in the three neighbouring provinces of the Kingdom of Cambodia. Notably, the PBG’s Command attended the 8^th Conference of the Foreign Affair Committees of the National Assemblies of Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia on “Promoting parliamentary partnership for sustainable development and responding to Covid-19 crisis in the Cambodia - Laos – Vietnam development triangle area” to achieve the goals and requirements.

Following the direction of the Ministry of National Defence (MND) and the Border Guard Command, the PBG’s Command coordinated with local agencies and units to advise the Provincial People’s Committee to build and inaugurate a memorial cluster in area X16 in Loc Tan commune, Loc Ninh district to commemorate Cambodian Prime Minister HunSen’s journey to save his country. Directing relevant agencies to closely coordinate with local functional forces and the Cambodian border guard force to conduct preparation and implementation of tasks before, during, and after the activities within the framework of the celebration and inauguration of the abovementioned project. In particular, the PBG closely coordinated with other forces to serve and ensure absolute security and safety for the heads of the MND during their inspection and attendance at the inauguration ceremony of the X16 cluster, which was acknowledge and highly appreciated by the MND and the province.

Besides, the PBG’s Command combines border guard diplomacy with people’s diplomacy to promote the synergy to firmly protect border sovereignty. To well implement this important task, the PBG proactively advised the authorities of border districts and communes on many guidelines, measures, programmes, and projects to promote socio-economic development and strengthen national defence, security, and foreign affairs. As a result, many models and programmes for economic development, helping people to eradicate hunger, reduce poverty, and stabilise their lives have been implemented, achieving practical effectiveness. To make people’s diplomacy increasingly in-depth and effective, the PBG’s Command coordinates with the Department of Foreign Affairs and the People’s Committee of Loc Ninh district to organise meetings and exchanges with the authorities of two Cambodian districts of Mi Mot and Snuol of Tboungkhmum and Kratie provinces to agree on and implement coordination activities. Successfully hosting a Conference to review the 5-year implementation of the twinning programme between Vuon Buoi hamlet, Loc Thien commune, Loc Ninh district, Binh Phuoc province and Cooc Tho Mo village, Tuan Lung commune, Mi Mot district, Tboungkhmum province, Cambodia. The PBG also closely coordinated with twinning units and hospitals inside and outside the province to promote the functions of the Vietnam – Cambodia military-civilian medical centre, providing health checks and free medicines for over 4,000 people of both countries. In the coming time, the PBG continues to promote people’s diplomacy, making it more in-depth, practical, and efficient. Importance is attached to improving the quality and effectiveness of models to help people eradicate hunger and reduce poverty; making coordination activities between the authorities and people of the two countries increasingly rich, practical, and orderly; promoting people-to-people exchanges, cultural and sports exchanges, etc. Through these activities, the two countries can create mutual trust and understanding, holding hands to manage and protect each country’s sovereignty and security, contributing to building a border of peace, friendship, cooperation, and mutual development.

Senior Colonel BUI MINH SOAI, Commander of the Provincial Border Guard Command