KUNMING, Jan. 29 (Xinhua) -- The 78th Mekong River joint patrol led by China, Laos, Myanmar, and Thailand started on Monday from Guanlei Port, Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture in southwest China's Yunnan Province.
Four vessels from the four countries participated in the joint patrol which is scheduled to last four days to enhance anti-terrorism capability, safeguard security and crack down on cross-border crimes, according to the information office of the provincial public security department.
The joint patrols started in December 2011 after a gang hijacked two cargo ships and killed 13 Chinese sailors in Thai waters on Oct. 5, 2011.
So far, the joint patrols have dispatched 654 vessels and covered more than 40,000 km, with 123 merchant ships rescued. 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.
