President Truong Tan Sang wished all border guards across the nation a happy Tet (Lunar New Year) when visiting the Vietnam Border Guard High Command’s headquarters in Hanoi on January 20.

President Sang asked about the preparations for the Tet festival in border areas while talking with officers from several border posts over the phone.

He told officers and soldiers to continue uniting in defence of their people.

They were also urged to have a thorough grasp of the Party’s political guidelines on implementing defence tasks, expanding external relations and conducting socio-economic development programmes to help people, especially those in border areas, escape from poverty and improve their lives.

Last year the Border Guard provided consultation for the Defence Ministry on issues related to territorial sovereignty and borders, and coordinated with other forces in addressing problems on the sea, and participated in aid relief operations and search and rescue activities.

The force reformed administrative procedures on entry and exit management, tackled 11,000 law-violation cases and arrested 20,000 offenders relating to drug smuggling, human trafficking and trade fraud.

It also asked for assistance from the Party and State to upgrade equipment to serve patrols, manage border marks and control entry and exit activities in the coming time.-VNA