95th Thai-China Joint Patrol on Mekong River Kicks Off

The enforcement personnel participating in the 88th Mekong River joint patrol are seen at Guanlei Port in southwest China's Yunnan Province, Nov. 19, 2019.(Xinhua/Wu Han)

KUNMING, China (Xinhua) — Law-enforcement authorities from China, Laos, Myanmar and Thailand joined forces on Tuesday for the start of the 95th Mekong River joint patrol.

Two Chinese vessels departed from Jingha Port, Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture, in southwest China’s Yunnan Province, while vessels of the other three countries departed from ports in Laos and Myanmar. The patrol will last four days and three nights.

Advertisement

Before the patrol, law-enforcement authorities of the four countries held a video conference to discuss the security situation of the river and reach agreement on jointly cracking down on illegal activities such as drug and gun-related crimes.

The Mekong River, known as the Lancang River in China, is a vital waterway for cross-border shipping.

Advertisement

China, Laos, Myanmar and Thailand have been carrying out joint patrols on the Mekong River for eight years.