Constantly enhancing the special friendship between Vietnam and Laos

(Baonghean) - In the struggle against foreign invaders and in national construction, the two countries of Vietnam and Laos, including the provinces of Nghe An, Xieng Khouang, Hua Phan, and Bolikhamxay, are close neighbors with long-standing close relations in many aspects, becoming loyal and steadfast friends.

After many years of hardship, fighting 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 Lao ethnic people rose up to overthrow the monarchy and establish the Lao People's Democratic Republic. This is a brilliant milestone in the modern history of Laos, becoming a national festival, the National Day of the Lao ethnic people.

Memorandum of Understanding signing ceremony 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, President Kaysone Phomvihane and President Souphanouvong, and has been cultivated by generations of leaders of the two Parties, two States and the two peoples, and has been increasingly consolidated and developed. Thanks to that special solidarity, the two peoples of Vietnam and Laos have been given more strength and indomitable will, always standing side by side, sharing joys and sorrows, overcoming hardships and challenges together, and achieving great victories in the cause of national construction and defense.

In recent years, the friendship and cooperation between Vietnam and Laos in general, and between Nghe An and the border provinces in particular, have made new developments. A high-ranking delegation of Nghe An province led by comrade Nguyen Dac Vinh - Member of the Party Central Committee, Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee visited and worked in Xieng Khouang province, signing a Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation between the two provinces in 2017. Nghe An is the investor of the Xieng Khouang Friendship Hospital with 200 beds funded by our Government. Nghe An supports Bolikhamxay province in technical construction of the 67 km long Pakse - Thanh Thuy route, on the Vientiane - Hanoi expressway.

Up to now, Nghe An has had about 90 enterprises exporting, importing and investing in the Lao market in the fields of: Construction, hydropower, transportation, architecture, mineral exploitation, wood processing and transportation, construction materials trading, consumer goods, banana, ginger, chili, soybean, peanut planting and international tourism tours exploitation... with a total investment capital of over 200 million USD in projects. In 2016, there were 130,969 people entering and exiting the country with passports, 65,880 people entering and exiting the border area, 16,387 vehicles and 24,986 tons of goods, 37,425 m3 of wood cleared through Nam Can and Thanh Thuy border gates. Nghe An exported 37.46 million USD to the Lao market (including petroleum, cement, construction steel, tiles, roofing sheets of all kinds), and imported 40.35 million USD (sawn timber, round timber, scrap iron, scrap plastic and agricultural products). 7 border markets operate well, of which Din Dam market meets 3 times a month, with a turnover of 7 billion VND/year.

The Vinh - Vientiane, Vinh - Phonsavan, Vinh - Thakhek, Vinh - Luang Prabang bus routes are increasingly crowded with passengers, with 7 fixed routes, a frequency of 158 trips/month. The number of Lao tourists visiting President Ho Chi Minh's hometown, vacationing at Cua Lo beach resort and visiting scenic spots of Nghe An is increasing. In 2016, the number of Lao and Thai tourists to Nghe An reached over 7,000. Nghe An tourists visiting the Plain of Jars, the capital Vientiane, the ancient capital Luang Prabang, Uncle Ho's Memorial in Noong Boc - Kham Muon and other scenic spots of Laos also increased significantly. Many localities in the province have expanded services in Laos, typically Dien Thap commune, Dien Chau district. Regarding air transport, they have coordinated to exploit the Vinh - Vientiane international flight route...

Bunpimay wrist-tying ceremony held at Vinh Medical University. Photo: HN

Regarding education and training, Nghe An helps train cadres for Lao provinces at a cost of 13 billion VND/year. In 2015 - 2016, it received 90 cadres and students from the provinces of Xieng Khouang, Bolikhamxay, Hua Phan, Vientiane, and Kham Muon to study Vietnamese at Nghe An Pedagogical College. 463 Lao cadres and students are studying at Vinh University, Vinh Medical University, Vinh Technical Pedagogical University, and Nghe An University of Economics. This is a quality source for the current and future leadership and economic and technical cadres of Laos.

The Department of Agriculture and Rural Development helps Xieng Khouang province train officials in cultivation, animal husbandry, and building advanced production models. Nghe An General Hospital helps train medical and pharmaceutical expertise for officials of Xieng Khouang General Hospital. Nghe An Provincial Library presents 2,000 books to Xieng Khouang Provincial Library. Nghe An Police helps Xieng Khouang train officials in public order and security, and border security. Nghe An Military Command trains officers in squads, platoons, and companies; and assistant officers at the provincial and district levels of Xieng Khouang province. Along with that, Nghe An has opened Lao language classes for state officials, ethnic minority officials, border guards, and businessmen cooperating with Laos.

In particular, the province has focused on and strengthened the work of party foreign affairs, state foreign affairs, and people-to-people foreign affairs. Nghe An welcomed 23 delegations with 243 visits and working visits from foreign countries. 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 welcomed the remains of 65 martyrs who died in Laos to be buried at Do Luong District Cemetery and held a memorial service at Anh Son Vietnam - Laos Friendship Cemetery, expressing the spirit of "When drinking water, remember its source", expressing gratitude for the contributions of heroes and martyrs who sacrificed for the noble international revolutionary cause. Activities to commemorate Uncle Ho at the President Ho Chi Minh Memorial Site in Noong Boc - Kham Muon; revisiting the old battlefield in Laos by former volunteer soldiers and experts from Nghe An; participating in the 67th Anniversary of the Vietnam - Laos Solidarity Alliance, were truly meaningful in encouraging and educating the spirit of international solidarity for the young generations of the two countries.

In 2016, Nghe An province and other border provinces further strengthened the friendship and comprehensive cooperation, deepened it and achieved practical results. The two sides closely coordinated in border patrols and protection; actively protected the Vietnam-Laos border marker system in the field; fought against free migration, encroachment, and marriage without a certificate; illegal proselytizing; storing, trading, and transporting drugs and prohibited goods across the border; replanting opium; prevented and defeated all plots of hostile forces to sabotage and divide the solidarity between Vietnam and Laos; propagated and mobilized people to strictly implement the Agreement on Border Regulations between the Socialist Republic of Vietnam and the Lao People's Democratic Republic; organized twinning between districts and districts, villages and villages (18 pairs of villages, 6 stations and stations) on both sides of the border.

The Vietnam - Laos Friendship Association publishes the newsletter "Vietnam - Laos Friendship"; coordinates with the provincial Radio and Television Station, Nghe An Newspaper to make reports, publish many news and articles; coordinates with Vinh University, Vinh Medical University to organize Bunpimay Festival and exchange activities "Vietnam - Laos Friendship". Former volunteer soldiers, experts, and members contribute documents and artifacts to the gallery of the life and career of comrade Kaysone Phoomvihane at the Nghe Tinh Soviet Museum. Tien Thuy Commune (Quynh Luu) donated the chair where comrade Kaysone Phoomvihane sat to work in 1952 to this gallery.

Nghe An is working with Lao provinces to continue cooperation in developing the Mekong River region and the East-West economic corridor.

Celebrating the 41st National Day of the Lao PDR, reviewing the glorious journey of the Vietnam-Laos solidarity and fighting alliance, and cooperation in the renovation period, we are happy and proud of the great victories that the Lao ethnic people have strived to achieve over the past 41 years and consider them as our own victories. The people of Nghe An province vow to work with our close Lao comrades and brothers to do our utmost to nurture the traditional friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and Laos to new heights, forever green, forever sustainable.

Congratulations to the Lao ethnic people, under the wise leadership of the Central Executive Committee of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party, headed by General Secretary Bounnhang Volachith, on continuing to gain even greater new achievements 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 Champa country of "Peace, Independence, Unity, Democracy and Prosperity".

LE XUAN DAI

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

Chairman of Vietnam - Laos Friendship Association of Nghe An province