Law enforcement authorities from China, Laos, Myanmar and Thailand completed their 154th joint patrol of the Mekong River on Friday.
The joint patrol saw six vessels and nearly 200 law enforcement officers from the four countries, covering over 600 kilometers of water in an operation that lasts four days and three nights.
The focus of the patrol, which coincided with International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking on Thursday, was a crackdown on drug crime to ensure safety and stability along the river.
The law enforcement fleet carried out diverse drug prevention campaigns in riverside villages, schools and enterprises.
The Mekong River -- known as the Lancang River in China -- is a vital waterway for cross-border shipping. China, Laos, Myanmar and Thailand have been conducting joint patrols of the river since December 2011.
154th Mekong River joint patrol concludes
The Republic of Korea (ROK) and China should cherish the historical experience of jointly resisting aggression and continue to work together for a prosperous future, said ROK President Lee Jae Myung.
At the invitation of Chinese President Xi Jinping, Lee will pay a state visit to China from Jan 4 to 7. It will be Lee's first visit to China since he took office last year.
In an interview with China Media Group (CMG) in Seoul on Wednesday, Lee said that humanity must learn from the past to prevent the tragedy of war from repeating itself.
"While pursuing their own national interests to the fullest extent, countries must not harm the national interests of others, but should coexist peacefully. The act of invading other countries and massacring their people for one's own benefit must never be repeated. History of humanity often repeats itself, therefore we must learn from the past. In this regard, I believe the historical experience of ROK and China in resisting aggression and fighting together is invaluable. Of course, while historical experience is important, we cannot remain stuck in the past. For a better future for the people of both countries, we need to continuously explore possibilities for working together towards the future," said the president.
ROK president calls for learning lesson from anti-aggression history
ROK president calls for learning lesson from anti-aggression history
