Bridge of special friendship between Vietnam and Laos

(Baonghean) - Over the past 55 years, there has been a relationship that has continuously developed and remained close despite the changes of time - that is the special friendship between the two peoples of Vietnam and Laos. The Party Committee, government and people of Nghe An province always respect and are proud to be one of the bridges that contribute to raising this good sentiment to a new level.

Comradeship and brotherhood are priceless.

55 years ago, after the Geneva Agreement on Laos was signed, a new revolutionary period opened, and Vietnam and Laos seized the opportunity to officially lay the first bricks to establish bilateral diplomatic relations on September 5, 1962. In 1977, when Vietnam and Laos were both completely liberated, the two countries signed the Vietnam-Laos Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation on July 18.

Doctors from Military Hospital 4 examine and treat people in Bolikhamxay province. Photo: Contributor

Looking back on the past, Nghe An is proud to have contributed to enhancing the traditional relationship with Lao provinces. Up to now, the Party's foreign affairs, State diplomacy, and people's diplomacy with Lao provinces have been increasingly deepened, achieving many outstanding results.

Delegations to visit, work, study and exchange experiences are organized regularly and diversely, from the provincial to the district, department and sector levels. In particular, the regime of rotating high-level talks and signing of memorandums of understanding at the provincial level; security and order meetings, and periodic meetings between districts along the border are maintained effectively.

Activities supporting socio-economic development, national defense and security are focused on by both sides. Many important projects in the fields of culture, education, health, and transportation in Lao provinces have received investment support from Nghe An province. Notably, about 90 Nghe An enterprises are currently directly investing and doing business effectively in the Lao market with a total capital of over 200 million USD.

In the field of culture and education, Nghe An province annually receives more than 90 cadres, students and pupils to study, research and improve their professional skills at universities and colleges in Nghe An province. Xieng Khouang, Bolikhamxay and Vientiane provinces have helped receive 15 cadres and students from Nghe An province to study short and long term at universities and colleges in Laos.

In addition, Nghe An and neighboring Lao provinces that share the border pay great attention to cooperation in territorial and border management and ensuring security and order in the border area. The work of increasing the density and embellishing border markers has been completed. The organization of twinning between the Border Guard Stations of Nghe An province and the Border Guard Companies and Police Stations of the provinces of Hua Phan, Xieng Khouang, Bolikhamxay and between the people of the villages on both sides of the border has been well implemented.

In particular, the work of searching, collecting and gathering the remains of Vietnamese volunteer soldiers and experts who died in Laos has received enthusiastic support from Lao provinces. Up to now, more than 12,000 sets of remains have been brought back to the country for collection, showing deep gratitude from the provinces to the cadres, soldiers and people of Nghe An who sacrificed for the independence and freedom of Laos.

“We have always been loyal, pure, consistent and a rare model in international relations” - Member of the Central Committee of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party, Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Governor of Xieng Khouang Province Som-cot Mang-no-mech emotionally affirmed at the ceremony to celebrate the 55th anniversary of the establishment of Vietnam - Laos diplomatic relations and the 40th anniversary of the signing of the Vietnam - Laos Treaty of Amity and Cooperation recently held in Nghe An province.

Accompanying the future

Looking back at the past to be proud and move forward in the present, together continuing on the path of friendship and cooperation in the future is what the delegates from the brotherly country of Laos always keep in mind when referring to the relationship with the neighbor, the close comrade Vietnam. Overcoming the events throughout history, the special solidarity between the two countries of Vietnam and Laos has become a rule, an extremely precious asset of the people of the two countries, cherished, constantly cultivated and passed on to future generations.

Safe vegetable growing model in Xieng Khouang (Laos) supported by Nghe An province. Photo: Thu Giang

President of the Lao PDR Kaysone Phomvihane once said: “There has never been anywhere and never been such a special and long-lasting and comprehensive solidarity and fighting alliance as the Laos-Vietnam relationship.” Through many ups and downs, that teaching still holds its value in the minds of every child of the Land of a Million Elephants.

Honored to represent the voice of Lao students studying at universities and colleges in Nghe An, Det Sihaphan, Class President of Lao students studying abroad at Vinh University of Technical Education, expressed: “For international students like us in particular and the young generation of Laos in general, the Laos-Vietnam friendship continues to be built and nurtured by the affection of the people of the two countries for each other, the care and support of teachers, foster parents, Vietnamese students, and Nghe An people for us during our study and living here.

We are willing to bring our knowledge and skills to contribute to building a rich and beautiful homeland and country, Laos, and to continue to preserve and foster the special traditional friendship between Vietnam and Laos.

With a solid foundation of glorious history and the driving force of outstanding achievements in the comprehensive cooperation between the two sides, it is entirely possible to expect to witness further progress in this special and rare diplomatic relationship in the new situation.

In that spirit, Nghe An province will also make every effort to further strengthen solidarity with Lao provinces, especially localities that share borders or have traditional cooperative relations.

This is what the Central Party Committee member, Nghe An Provincial Party Secretary Nguyen Dac Vinh emphasized to his friends and brothers of the Vietnamese people: “In the face of complex and unpredictable changes in the world situation and the development requirements of each country, we vow to strive together, focus all efforts to raise the traditional friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and Laos to new heights.

Despite many difficulties, the Party Committee, government and people of Nghe An affirm that they will always stand shoulder to shoulder and be determined with the Party Committee, government and people of the Lao provinces to continue to consolidate and develop the loyal and pure relationship - the invaluable asset of the two nations for future generations, as President Kaysone Phomvihane once said: "Mountains may wear away, rivers may dry up, but the Laos - Vietnam friendship will forever be stronger than mountains and rivers"...

Thu Giang