Ky Son's mark in the special friendship between Vietnam and Laos

The traditional Bunpimay New Year of Laos takes place in mid-April, which is also the month of great historical events for the Vietnamese people. The neighboring country is filled with flags and flowers to welcome the traditional New Year, and delegations from all levels of Ky Son district come to celebrate with their brothers who are "mountains connected to mountains and rivers connected to rivers".

Leaders of Ky Son district and the working delegation celebrate Bunpimay 2023 with officials and people of Laos. Photo: PV

Sharing the joy and New Year wishes to the cadres and people of the neighboring districts of Laos, Ky Son district has sent many working delegations to the 3 provinces that share the border with Vietnam in Ky Son district. This is one of the annual activities, which has become a tradition between generations of cadres as well as people on both sides of the border throughout history.

Of the 21 communes and towns of Ky Son district, 11 communes share borders with 4 districts of 3 provinces of Laos, including: Vieng Thoong district, Bo Ly Kham Xay province; Noong Het and Muong Moc districts, Xieng Khouang province and Muong Quan district, Hua Phan province.

With its unique geographical location and 203.409km border length, Ky Son district is considered an important diplomatic “door”. At the same time, this is also a favorable condition for the authorities and people on both sides of the border to exchange and support each other to protect and maintain national border security, and foster the special friendship that has been painstakingly built by the Party, State and people of the two countries.

In 2022, the Standing Committee of Ky Son District Party Committee effectively led and directed foreign propaganda work; border patrol work, border markers and socio-economic development at the border.

Delegation from Lao districts congratulated Ky Son district on the occasion of the traditional New Year 2023. Photo: PV

In addition, the Standing Committee of Ky Son District Party Committee also had a working session and attended the speech ceremony to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and Laos (September 5, 1962 - September 5, 2022) and the 45th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation between Vietnam and Laos (July 18, 1977 - July 18, 2022) in Noong Het District, Xieng Khouang Province (Laos). Thereby, enhancing the relationship between the two districts and the two peoples of Vietnam and Laos, helping to maintain border security between Ky Son District and neighboring districts of Laos.

In addition, the two sides' armed forces regularly exchange information, visit and support each other in all aspects, especially in times of difficulty and disaster. For example, Ky Son district provides material and medical support to Lao officials and people to prevent the Covid-19 epidemic.

Or like the leaders of Noong Het, Muong Kham, Muong Mooc, Muong Quan districts (Laos) visited and gave gifts to the people of Ky Son district after the flash flood on October 2, 2022; mobilized machinery to level the roads of Ky Son that were eroded by flash floods...

In April 2022, after more than 2 years of Nam Can International Border Gate Market being closed due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Ky Son district proactively discussed and agreed with the authorities of Laos to reopen, not only resuming the exchange of goods, but also being a place for people on both sides of the border to exchange culture and arts. Because Nam Can International Border Gate Market is not only a place for the exchange of goods, but also a place where the diverse cultures of the Mong, Thai, Kho Mu ethnic groups... from the localities on both sides of the border gather.

Comrade Nguyen Duc Trung - Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Chairman of the People's Committee of Nghe An province visited and inspected the Xieng Khouang Provincial Friendship Hospital project built and donated by Nghe An. Photo courtesy of Pham Bang

In addition to reopening the Nam Can International Border Gate Market, after 2 years of interruption due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the regular meeting between Ky Son district and 4 provinces of Laos has also been continued. Every year, Ky Son and 4 districts of 3 provinces of Laos will have regular meetings twice in the middle and end of the year. The meeting method rotates, the mid-year meeting will be held in Ky Son district. The year-end meeting will be held in turn in the districts of Laos. Ky Son has also effectively implemented the movement of signing village-to-village friendship agreements on both sides of the border. Up to now, 15 pairs of villages, 2 mass organizations and 3 armed units have signed the friendship agreements, becoming close brothers in one family.

Through the meetings, visits and New Year greetings between the leaders and departments of Ky Son district and the leaders of neighboring districts, we promptly exchanged and helped each other grasp the security and order situation, economic and social development of the two sides to help each other maintain peace on the border, develop peace, cooperation and strong friendship.

During the process of cooperation, exchange and discussion, the neighboring districts also expressed their wish that Ky Son district in particular and Nghe An province in general would help and support their neighbor with specific projects that are close to people's lives and government activities, such as the Xieng Khouang Provincial Friendship Hospital, roads, etc. "Ky Son district as well as the communes sharing the border also spend a lot of money and organize many activities to help and support the people and officials of the neighboring country in the process of traveling and exchanging on both sides of the border, and it has become a tradition. However, the biggest difficulty in supporting the neighbor more is that the budget for activities is still limited" - Secretary of Ky Son District Party Committee Vi Hoe said.

Heads of delegations of districts sharing a common border agreed to sign a memorandum of understanding at the December 2022 meeting. Photo courtesy of Huyen Thu

Secretary of the Ky Son District Party Committee Vi Hoe also affirmed that every year, in addition to regular meetings between the districts on both sides of the border, Ky Son also proactively builds its own regulations with the border districts of the neighboring country; proactively contacts and connects in many forms with local leaders at all levels of the neighboring country to discuss and resolve issues arising on the border.

Thanks to that, over the years, the sincere connection between the government and people of Ky Son and the provinces and districts of Laos has been constantly enhanced, in the spirit of preserving and nurturing the special friendship and comprehensive cooperation between the two countries and peoples established by President Ho Chi Minh, President Kaysone Phomvihane, President Souphanouvong...