More than 200km away from the mainland, Tho Chau holds animportant strategic position in defence, security and marine economicdevelopment, and currently houses nearly 2,000 people living mainly on farming and seafood exploitation and processing.
Visiting Regiment 152 of the Military Region 9, President Thuongappreciated the unit’s achievements in defence and security work with the supportof people and forces of Kien Giang province and Tho Chau island commune.
He stressed that the unit's top priority task is to safeguard national sovereignty over the airspace and waters of Tho Chau island as well aspeace and happiness for local people, urging the soldiers to increase vigilance to avoid unexpected situations.
Visiting and presenting gifts to officers and soldiers of theTho Chau Border Guard Station, the State leader lauded their contributions toprotecting border sovereignty and national territory.

Emphasising the unique geographical conditions of the islandcommune with large forest coverage, the President asked local authorities andpeople to pay greater attention to protecting and managing the ecologicalenvironment and resources.
On this occasion, he offered incense at Tho Chau Temple tocommemorate martyrs who sacrificed for the country's independence and freedomand more than 500 innocent people murdered by the Khmer Rouge in 1975.
On the same day, within the framework of his trip to KienGiang, the State leader visited and presented gifts to officers and soldiers ofthe border guard station at the Ha Tien International Border Gate, and local people.
Thuong emphasised the top task of officers and soldiers in cross-border immigration management and requested them to continue creatingfavourable conditions for exchange and trade activities between people andbusinesses of Vietnam and Cambodia./.