Continuously strengthening the special friendship between Vietnam and Laos.

(Baonghean) - In the struggle against foreign invaders and in nation-building, Vietnam and Laos, including the provinces of Nghe An, Xieng Khouang, Hua Phan, and Bolikhamsai, are close neighbors with long-standing and intimate ties in many aspects, becoming loyal and steadfast friends.

After years of hardship, struggle, and sacrifice for independence and freedom, under the wise leadership of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party and the Lao Itxala Front, on December 2, 1975, the people of the Lao ethnic groups rose up to overthrow the monarchy and establish the Lao People's Democratic Republic. This is a glorious milestone in the modern history of Laos, becoming a national holiday and the national day of the fraternal Lao people.

Signing ceremony of the Memorandum of Understanding between the Vietnam-Laos Friendship Association of Nghe An province and the Laos-Vietnam Friendship Association of Xieng Khouang province. Photo: HN

The special friendship between Vietnam and Laos was firmly established by President Ho Chi Minh and Presidents Kaysone Phomvihane and Souphanouvong, and has been diligently nurtured by successive generations of leaders of the two Parties, two States, and the people of both countries, becoming increasingly consolidated and developed. It is thanks to this special solidarity that the Vietnamese and Lao peoples have been empowered with strength and indomitable spirit, always standing shoulder to shoulder, sharing hardships and challenges, and achieving great victories in the cause of national construction and defense.

In recent years, the friendly relations and cooperation between Vietnam and Laos in general, and between Nghe An and its neighboring provinces in particular, have seen new developments. A high-level delegation from Nghe An province, led by Comrade Nguyen Dac Vinh – Member of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam and Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee – visited and worked in Xieng Khouang province, signing a Memorandum of Understanding outlining cooperation between the two provinces in 2017. Nghe An is the investor for the 200-bed Xieng Khouang Friendship Hospital project, funded by the Vietnamese government. Nghe An is also providing technical assistance to Bolikhamsai province for the construction of the 67-kilometer Pakse-Thanh Thuy road, part of the Vientiane-Hanoi expressway.

To date, Nghe An province has approximately 90 businesses involved in import-export and investment in the Lao market across various sectors: construction, hydropower, transportation, architecture, mineral exploitation, wood processing and transportation, trading in construction materials, consumer goods, banana, ginger, chili, soybean, and peanut cultivation, and international tourism and travel services... with a total investment of over 200 million USD. In 2016, there were 130,969 passport-based entry and exit transactions, 65,880 border crossings, 16,387 vehicles, 24,986 tons of goods, and 37,425 m³ of timber cleared through the Nam Can and Thanh Thuy border gates. Nghe An province exported goods worth US$37.46 million to Laos (including petroleum products, cement, construction steel, tiles, and roofing sheets), and imported goods worth US$40.35 million (sawn timber, round timber, scrap iron, waste plastic, and agricultural products). Seven border markets are operating well, with the Din Dam market holding three sessions per month and generating VND 7 billion in sales annually.

The Vinh - Vientiane, Vinh - Phonsavan, Vinh - Thakhek, and Vinh - Luang Prabang bus routes are increasingly busy, with 7 fixed routes and a frequency of 158 trips per month. The number of Lao tourists visiting the birthplace of President Ho Chi Minh, vacationing at Cua Lo beach resort, and visiting scenic spots in Nghe An is steadily increasing. In 2016, the number of Lao and Thai tourists visiting Nghe An reached over 7,000. The number of tourists from Nghe An visiting the Plain of Jars, Vientiane, Luang Prabang, the Ho Chi Minh Memorial in Nong Bok - Khammouane, and other scenic spots in Laos has also increased significantly. Many localities in the province have expanded their services in Laos, notably Dien Thap commune in Dien Chau district. Regarding air transport, cooperation has been established to operate the Vinh - Vientiane international flight route…

The Bunpimay New Year wrist-tying ceremony was held at Vinh Medical University. Photo: HN

Regarding education and training, Nghe An province assists in training cadres for Lao provinces with an annual cost of 13 billion VND. In 2015-2016, 90 cadres and students from Xieng Khouang, Bolikhamsai, Hua Phan, Vientiane, and Khammouane provinces studied Vietnamese at Nghe An College of Education. 463 Lao cadres and students are currently studying at Vinh University, Vinh Medical University, Vinh University of Technology and Education, and Nghe An University of Economics. This provides a high-quality source of additional leadership and economic and technical personnel for Laos, both currently and in the future.

The Department of Agriculture and Rural Development assisted Xieng Khouang province in training officials on crop cultivation, livestock farming, and the development of advanced production models. The Nghe An Friendship General Hospital provided professional medical training for staff at the Xieng Khouang Provincial General Hospital. The Nghe An Provincial Library donated 2,000 books to the Xieng Khouang Provincial Library. The Nghe An Police assisted Xieng Khouang in training officials in public order, security, and border control. The Nghe An Military Command trained platoon, company, and provincial and district-level assistant officers in Xieng Khouang province. In addition, Nghe An opened Lao language classes for government officials, ethnic minority officials, border guards, and businesspeople cooperating with Laos.

In particular, the province has focused on and strengthened Party diplomacy, State diplomacy, and people-to-people diplomacy. Nghe An welcomed 23 delegations with 243 officials from neighboring countries for visits and work. Volunteer students from Vinh University went to Phonsavan to teach Vietnamese and exchange culture and arts with Lao youth and students...

In 2016, Nghe An province received 65 remains of martyrs who died in Laos for burial at the Do Luong District Cemetery and held a memorial service at the Anh Son Vietnam-Laos Friendship Cemetery, demonstrating the spirit of "drinking water, remembering the source," and expressing gratitude for the contributions of the heroes and martyrs who sacrificed themselves for the noble cause of the international revolution. Activities commemorating President Ho Chi Minh at the Ho Chi Minh Memorial Area in Nong Bok - Khammouane; visits to former battlefields in Laos by former volunteer soldiers and experts from Nghe An; and participation in the 67th anniversary celebration of the Vietnam-Laos Combat Solidarity Alliance truly served to encourage and educate the younger generation of both countries about the spirit of international solidarity.

In 2016, Nghe An province, along with other provinces sharing a border, further strengthened friendly relations and comprehensive cooperation, deepening cooperation and achieving practical results. Both sides closely coordinated border patrols; actively protected the Vietnam-Laos border marker system on the ground; combated illegal migration, encroachment on land, illegal marriages, illegal proselytization, the storage, trafficking, and transportation of narcotics and prohibited goods across the border; prevented the re-cultivation of opium poppies; thwarted all conspiracies of hostile forces aiming to undermine and divide the solidarity between Vietnam and Laos; propagated and mobilized the people to strictly implement the Agreement on Border Regulations between the Socialist Republic of Vietnam and the Lao People's Democratic Republic; and organized twinning programs between districts and districts, and between villages (18 pairs of villages, 6 border posts and stations) on both sides of the border.

The Vietnam-Laos Friendship Association publishes the newsletter "Vietnam-Laos Friendship"; collaborates with the provincial radio and television station and Nghe An Newspaper to produce documentaries and publish numerous news articles; and cooperates with Vinh University and Vinh Medical University to organize the Bunpimay New Year celebration and other exchange activities under the theme "Deepening the Vietnam-Laos Friendship". Former volunteer soldiers, experts, and members contributed documents and artifacts to the exhibition room showcasing the life and career of Comrade Kaysone Phomvihane at the Nghe Tinh Soviet Museum. Tien Thuy commune (Quynh Luu district) donated the chair that Comrade Kaysone Phomvihane used to work in 1952 to this exhibition room.

Nghe An is continuing to cooperate with provinces in Laos to develop the Mekong River region and the East-West economic corridor.

On the occasion of the 41st anniversary of the National Day of the Lao People's Democratic Republic, reflecting on the glorious journey of the Vietnam-Lao alliance and solidarity in the struggle, and the cooperation during the đổi mới (renovation) period, we are joyful and proud of the great victories that the fraternal Lao people have strived to achieve over the past 41 years, and consider them as our own victories. The people of Nghe An province pledge to work together with our close Lao comrades and brothers to do our utmost to cultivate the traditional friendship, special solidarity, and comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and Laos to a new level, forever vibrant and enduring for generations to come.

Congratulations to the fraternal Lao people, under the wise leadership of the Central Committee of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party, headed by General Secretary Bounnhang Vorachit, for continuing to achieve even greater new successes in implementing the Resolution of the 10th Congress of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party and the socio-economic development, national defense and security plan until 2020, successfully building the beautiful land of Champa, "Peace, Independence, Unity, Democracy and Prosperity".

LE XUAN DAI

Member of the Standing Committee of the Provincial Party Committee, Permanent Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee,

Chairman of the Vietnam-Laos Friendship Association of Nghe An Province