Pictured is the new command vessel No. 53108 that the Yunnan provincial public security department's water patrol headquarters recently launched. Photo: Yunnan.cn

A launch ceremony for two new law enforcement vessels, namely the new command vessel No. 53108 and the high-speed patrol law enforcement vessel No. 53117, was held recently by the Yunnan provincial public security department's water patrol headquarters in Menghan town of Jinghong, Southwest China's Yunnan Province, marking the official completion of the fourth generation of law enforcement vessels for the Mekong River joint patrols and law enforcement missions by China, Laos, Myanmar and Thailand, the Xinhua News Agency reported on Thursday.

Compared with the existing law enforcement vessels, the performance of these two vessels, and their functions have been enhanced and expanded, Xinhua reported. Once commissioned, they will provide enhanced support for the joint patrols and law enforcement missions of China, Laos, Myanmar, and Thailand along the Mekong River.

According to Xinhua, to meet the requirements of joint Mekong River patrols and law enforcement missions for the new era and considering the hydrographic characteristics of the Lancang-Mekong waterway, the Yunnan authorities took the lead in designing and supervising the construction of these two vessels.

Construction of the two vessels began on April 1, 2024. According to the mooring test plan, the two vessels will sequentially undergo performance tests for various equipment, and will be commissioned for deployment accordingly.

The latest Mekong River joint patrol by China, Laos, Myanmar, and Thailand concluded on June 21, 2024, which covered over 630 kilometers and involved 130 law enforcement personnel.

The Mekong River, also known as the Lancang River in China, is an important waterway for cross-border transportation. Since December 2011, the four countries have been conducting cooperative river patrols, according to Xinhua.

Global Times