Joint patrol completes on Mekong River

KUNMING - The 79th joint patrol on Mekong River, led by China, Laos, Myanmar and Thailand, concluded Friday at the Guanlei Port, Dai Autonomous Prefecture of Xishuangbanna in Southwest China's Yunnan province.

A total of 154 law enforcement officers from the four countries, in nine vessels, participated in the mission and covered 512 km in four days.

They inspected 16 vehicles and 10 tonnes of cargo, and visited 22 people during the mission, imposing an effective deterrence against diverse kinds of crime on the river.

The Mekong River, known as the Lancang River in China, is a vital waterway for cross-border shipping among China, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam.

Joint patrols on the Mekong River started in December 2011 to tackle safety concerns.