KUNMING, Sept. 27 (Xinhua) -- The 86th Mekong River joint patrol led by China, Laos, Myanmar and Thailand concluded Friday, as three Chinese and two Laotian law enforcement boats anchored at Guanlei Port, Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture in southwest China's Yunnan Province.

A total of 136 law enforcement officers from the four countries, in six vessels, participated in the four-day mission, according to the Yunnan provincial public security department.

Joint patrols and an anti-drug campaign were launched in key waters such as the Golden Triangle. The Chinese side sent a delegation of police instructors to Laos for exchanging practical police skills.

Multilateral information exchange meetings on law enforcement cooperation and a series of cultural and sports exchange activities were also held in Chiang Saen, Thailand during the patrol.

China and Laos will continue to conduct a 10-day long joint training and staged joint patrol after the mission.

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 that year.

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.