Opening of the 4th Vietnam-Laos People's Friendship Festival

As part of a series of activities to celebrate the “Vietnam-Laos Solidarity and Friendship Year 2017,” the opening ceremony of the 4th Vietnam-Laos People’s Friendship Festival took place on the afternoon of July 17 at the National Convention Center in Vientiane, Lao People’s Democratic Republic.

Performance at the opening ceremony of the festival.

Attending the ceremony were Politburo member, Deputy Prime Minister of Laos Sonexay Siphandone; Party Central Committee member, National Assembly Standing Committee member, Chairman of the Economic-Finance and Audit Committee of the Lao National Assembly, President of the Central Committee of the Laos-Vietnam Friendship Association Vilayvong Butdakham; Party Central Committee member, National Assembly Standing Committee member, Head of the National Assembly Delegation Affairs Committee, Deputy Head of the Central Committee of the Party Organization, President of the Central Committee of the Vietnam-Laos Friendship Association Tran Van Tuy; representatives of the Vietnamese Embassy in Laos; representatives of the General Association and City Associations of Vietnamese people in the capital Vientiane; and many representatives of Lao agencies and departments...

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the 4th Vietnam-Laos People's Friendship Festival, Lao Deputy Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone emphasized that the great friendship and special tradition of solidarity between the two peoples of Laos and Vietnam, Vietnam-Laos, founded by President Ho Chi Minh, President Kaysone Phomvihane and President Suphanuvong, is a rare relationship in the world. This is a priceless asset, the law of existence and development of the two countries, and one of the decisive factors for the victory of the two countries.

Lao Deputy Prime Minister Sonxay affirmed that despite the complex and unpredictable developments in the regional and world situations, the loyal and pure friendship between the two countries has continued to develop and bear fruit; the Lao Party, State and people consider the Laos-Vietnam Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation a major historical turning point, the crystallization of the revolutionary struggles of the two countries.

Panorama of the festival opening ceremony.

Deputy Prime Minister Sonxay Siphandone emphasized that people's diplomacy and the activities of the Laos-Vietnam Friendship Association play an important role in protecting and promoting Laos-Vietnam solidarity. In the new situation, the Friendship Associations of the two countries need to continue to shoulder the responsibility, mission and role of a solid bridge for the relationship between the two countries; educate the younger generation of the two countries to deeply understand the special relationship between the two countries, know the great sacrifices of the previous generation so that the younger generation understands their responsibility in preserving and developing the special friendship between Laos-Vietnam, Vietnam-Laos.

In his speech, Mr. Tran Van Tuy said that the special Vietnam-Laos relationship was forged and forged by the blood and efforts of tens of thousands of Vietnamese and Laotians who fought and sacrificed for the independence and freedom of each country, for the special friendship and solidarity between Vietnam and Laos. That is why President Ho Chi Minh wrote the famous verse “Vietnam and Laos, our two countries, have a love deeper than the Red River and Mekong River,” and President Kaysone Phomvihane affirmed, “Mountains may wear away, rivers may dry up, but the Laos-Vietnam friendship will forever be stronger than mountains and rivers.”

Mr. Tran Van Tuy said that looking back over the past 55 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations and 40 years of signing the Vietnam-Laos Treaty of Amity and Cooperation, the two countries are proud and happy to see that the traditional friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and Laos have been constantly consolidated, innovated, developed extensively and raised to new heights, making an important, practical and effective contribution to the cause of national construction and defense of each country, affirming that in each step forward, each victory of the revolution of each country, there is the consensus and active contribution of both sides, making the special Vietnam-Laos relationship increasingly strong, durable and constantly bearing fruit.

The President of the Central Committee of the Vietnam-Laos Friendship Association also emphasized that the "Vietnam-Laos Solidarity and Friendship Year 2017" together with the celebration of the 55th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations and the 40th anniversary of the signing of the Vietnam-Laos Friendship and Cooperation Treaty, two milestones in the history of Vietnam-Laos relations, have extremely profound significance for consolidating and strongly promoting the traditional friendship, special solidarity, and comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and Laos; is an opportunity for the two countries to review the glorious history and gain a deeper understanding of the importance and great significance of that special relationship, considering it an important factor ensuring the development of each country in the cause of innovation, building and defending the Fatherland, for the prosperous and happy life of the Vietnamese and Lao people; affirming that the Laos-Vietnam People's Friendship Festival held this time in the beautiful land of Laos is also a common effort, a practical measure to contribute to preserving and developing the special relationship between Vietnam-Laos, Laos-Vietnam./.

According to VietNam+