The Sino-Russian frontier defense troops are on joint patrol amid the heavy snow. (Photo by Sun Peng)

　　The Chinese and Russian frontier defense troops accomplished the first joint patrol along the Argun River, an iced Sino-Russian boundary river in the east of Inner Mongolia of People’s Republic of China (PRC), between January 25 and 26.

　　According to the commander of the Hulun Buir Military Sub-Command of the Inner Mongolia Military Command, the Sino-Russian joint patrol this time not only enhanced mutual trust and understanding between the Chinese and Russian border representative organs, but also laid a more solid foundation for the Chinese and Russian frontier defense troops to construct a peaceful and stable frontier environment through concerted efforts.

　　In spite of that the temperature in the Greater Khingan Mountains in the east of Inner Mongolia was as low as 30 degrees Centigrade below zero at 8:30 a.m. on January 25, the Sino-Russian frontier defense troops carried out their joint-patrol along the iced border river as planned.

　　The patrol personnel entered the iced boundary Argun River from the Chinese territory and then headed northward following the No. 111 border marker before finally arriving at the No. 124 border marker on the afternoon of January 26, covering a distance of 200 km in total.

　　The personnel participating in the joint patrol had determined on carrying out such tasks as jointly inspecting the order of the covered border section, checking the border markers and greeting the officers and men performing duty at the sentry posts.

　　Some officers and men from each of the Sino-Russian frontier sentries along the border river were also dispatched to join in the joint patrol in such forms as taking a vehicle and riding a motorcycle or a sled.

　　It is learned that in the coming summer the Sino-Russian joint patrol by boat will be staged along the boundary Argun River and a Sino-Russian joint military exercise will be carried out to crack down on the cross-border smuggling and sorts of other illegal activities in the Sino-Russian border area so as to guarantee the stability and prosperity in that area.

　　By Guo Jianyue and Gao Pengfei