Celebrating 50 Years of the National Boundary Commission: PM highlights key principles in safeguarding national sovereignty, territorial integrity

Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính delivers a directive speech at the Ceremony. (Photo: Thanh Long)

On December 15, at the Government Office, the National Boundary Commission and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs solemnly held the 50th-anniversary celebration (1975 - 2025) and received the First-Class Labour Order. Politburo member, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh attended the Ceremony.

Also in attendance were leaders, former leaders of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and leaders of the National Boundary Commission over the years, representatives from border and coastal agencies, ministries, sectors, and localities, along with all officials, civil servants, and employees of the National Boundary Commission.

At the Ceremony, Alternate Member of the Party Central Committee, Permanent Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Nguyen Minh Vu, on behalf of the National Boundary Commission, reported on border and territorial work over 50 years of development.

Permanent Deputy Foreign Minister Nguyen Minh Vu highlights the significant achievements in border and territorial work over 50 years of development. (Photo: Thanh Long)

Throughout half a century of formation and development, the National Boundary Commission has achieved numerous accomplishments, creating significant strategic marks in gradually building peaceful, stable, friendly, and cooperative borders with neighboring countries.

Recognizing the relentless efforts for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the nation, the Party and State have awarded the National Boundary Commission many prestigious honours, including the Hero of Labour title, the Ho Chi Minh Order, the Independence Order of First, Second, and Third Class, along with numerous commendations, emulation flags, and other prestigious awards.

Delegates attending the Ceremony. (Photo: Thanh Long)

At the Ceremony, Ambassador Ho Xuan Son, former Member of the Party Central Committee, former Permanent Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, and former Chairman of the National Boundary Commission, shared his feelings and thoughts about a collective that has silently but significantly contributed to the sacred mission of protecting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the nation.

According to Ambassador Ho Xuan Son, 50 years - a journey not only measured by time but also marked by glorious tradition, intelligence, courage, determination, and high responsibility of many generations of officials on border and territorial work.

Ambassador Ho Xuan Son, former Member of the Party Central Committee, former Permanent Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, and former Chairman of the National Boundary Commission shares at the Ceremony. (Photo: Thanh Long)

More than 8 years working at the National Boundary Committee (from 2007 to 2016) was an especially profound and unforgettable period for Ambassador Ho Xuan Son. It was not only years of hard work but also years of growth in understanding, nurturing faith, and deep love for the country's border and territorial work.

Ambassador Ho Xuan Son has deep faith in the current and future generations of officials and civil servants of the National Boundary Commission - individuals who are politically steadfast, professionally proficient, and full of enthusiasm, responsibility, and aspiration to contribute. "Like the entire nation, I place my full trust in the forces working day and night on border and territorial tasks across the country - from the mainland to distant islands," Ambassador Ho Xuan Son shared.

Secretary of the Youth Union of the National Boundary Commission Vu Quoc Tuan shares the determination of the youth generation of the National Boundary Committee, following in the footsteps of their predecessors. (Photo: Thanh Long)

Representing the younger generation, Secretary of the Youth Union of the National Boundary Commission Vu Quoc Tuan expressed that each young official of the Commission increasingly feels the honour and pride, while also being aware of the responsibility of the youth team in inheriting and continuing the 50-year tradition of the National Boundary Commission.

"With the 5T spirit of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' youth: Intelligence - Responsibility - Dedication - Confidence - Pioneering, we - the youth of the National Boundary Commission pledge to continue training, striving, maintaining political courage, constantly learning, innovating thinking, to uphold the glorious tradition of the National Border Committee; while contributing our efforts to the mission of protecting and preserving the sacred territorial sovereignty and borders, creating a peaceful, stable environment for the country's robust and prosperous development, confidently advancing into a new era," the Secretary of the Youth Union of the National Boundary Commission expressed determination.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh commends the efforts and outstanding achievements of generations of officials, civil servants, and employees of the National Border Committee over the past 50 years. (Photo: Thành Long)

In his directive speech at the Ceremony, Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính commended the efforts and outstanding achievements of generations of officials, civil servants, and employees of the National Border Committee over the past 50 years.

The Prime Minister emphasized that the National Border Committee is a silent soldier, dedicating effort and intelligence day and night, pioneering in diplomatic, legal, public opinion, and field fronts; making significant contributions to firmly protecting the sacred sovereignty of the nation and strengthening friendly relations with neighboring countries.

On this occasion, the Prime Minister conveyed the high appreciation of the Party and State to the generations of leaders, officials, and employees of the National Border Committee who have been persistent, loyal, and dedicated, contributing significantly to the mission of building and defending the nation.

Reflecting on the lessons learned in border and territorial work, the Prime Minister emphasized the need to closely follow the Party's directives to achieve the highest goal of protecting independence, unity, and territorial integrity; to be principled in approach, flexible in strategy, and uphold the rule of law in resolving border and territorial issues.

In this context, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh emphasized learning from the rich and diverse experiences of the predecessors, building them into a database, summarizing them into theories and thinking, to proactively implement border and territorial work.

Furthermore, it is necessary to continue leveraging the lesson of combining national strength with the strength of the times, focusing on investing in resources for border and territorial work. Practical experience shows that to firmly protect independence and territorial sovereignty, it is essential to invest in and develop the economy for people in border areas, so that each citizen becomes a "living milestone" firmly at the nation's frontier.

The Prime Minister stressed that investment in border areas should be at least equal to or higher than in the interior.

Regarding future tasks, given the complex developments in the international and regional situation, the Prime Minister requested the National Boundary Commission to thoroughly understand and implement the "3 Kien" motto, which is to be resolute and flexible in defending independence, sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity; to be steadfast in applying legal and technical elements: considering bilateral treaties and agreements on borders, international law, especially the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea 1982 (UNCLOS), as the foremost important tools to protect national interests; to persist in cooperation and dialogue in resolving disagreements, seeking fundamental, long-term solutions, maintaining a peaceful and stable environment for national development.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Hoai Trung expresses emotion and honour in listening to the heartfelt and profound directive speech of the Prime Minister. (Photo: Thanh Long)

On behalf of the leadership and staff of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, including the National Boundary Commission, Secretary of the Party Central Committee, Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Hoai Trung acknowledged the comprehensive and profound directives of the Prime Minister.

Foreign Minister Le Hoai Trung affirmed that to achieve the glorious achievements over the past 50 years, the National Boundary Commission has always received close attention and guidance from the Party and State leaders, close coordination from agencies, ministries, sectors, and localities, and the significant contributions of generations of officials, civil servants, and employees working in border and territorial tasks.

Amidst the rapid, complex, and unpredictable developments of the global and regional situation, in the coming time, the National Boundary Commission will continue to promote its glorious tradition, thoroughly grasp the directives of the Party and State, and work with utmost dedication to the goal of firmly protecting territorial sovereignty, the legitimate rights and interests of Vietnam, maintaining a peaceful and stable environment, creating favourable conditions for the country to confidently advance into a new era, the era of the nation's rise.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh awards the First-Class Labour Order to the National Boundary Commission, Ministry of Foreign Affairs. (Photo: Thanh Long)

Recognizing the unit's significant contributions, on behalf of the Party and State leaders, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh awarded the First-Class Labour Order to the National Boundary Commission. Chairman of the National Boundary Commission Trinh Duc Hai and the Commission's leaders represented the collective in receiving this prestigious award.

The celebration was an important occasion to reflect on tradition, express gratitude to previous generations, and affirm the determination of the National Boundary Commission in particular, and the diplomatic sector in general, in the mission of safeguarding national sovereignty and territory in the new situation.

Some images from the Anniversary Ceremony:

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh takes a photo with leaders of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the National Boundary Commission. (Photo: Thanh Long)

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh takes a photo with leaders of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, leaders of the National Boundary Commission, and the Commission's staff. (Photo: Thanh Long)

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh with former leaders of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and former leaders of the National Boundary Commission. (Photo: Thanh Long)

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh takes a group photo with delegates attending the Ceremony. (Photo: Thanh Long)

A cultural performance at the Ceremony. (Photo: Thanh Long)