Nghe An solemnly celebrates the 60th anniversary of the establishment of Vietnam - Laos diplomatic relations

Ambassadors, leaders of 7 provinces of Lao PDR, central leaders, and Nghe An province attended the celebration. Photo: Thanh Duy

Scene of the 60th Anniversary of the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations and the 45th Anniversary of the Signing of the Vietnam-Laos Treaty of Amity and Cooperation. Photo: Thanh Duy

RARE, EXEMPLARY INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS IN THE WORLD

In his speech welcoming the anniversary, comrade Thai Thanh Quy - Secretary of Nghe An Provincial Party Committee affirmed that as two close neighboring countries, both leaning against the majestic Truong Son mountain range, Vietnam and Laos have quickly built diplomatic relations, connecting and supporting each other throughout the history of building and defending the country of the two peoples.

In particular, since the birth of the Indochinese Communist Party, directly laid by President Ho Chi Minh and President Kaysone Phomvihane, and cultivated by successive generations of leaders of the two Parties, States and Peoples, the traditional relationship between the two peoples of Vietnam and Laos has continuously blossomed and borne sweet fruit, becoming a miraculous force leading to many great victories in the struggle for national liberation, building and defending the country and advancing together towards socialism.

Comrade Thai Thanh Quy - Secretary of Nghe An Provincial Party Committee delivered a speech welcoming the anniversary. Photo: Thanh Duy

Reviewing the tradition of friendly cooperation between the two countries over the past 60 years, Provincial Party Secretary Thai Thanh Quy said that since February 2019, the political relationship of "traditional friendship" between the two countries has been consolidated and elevated to "great friendship", affirming an exemplary international relationship, rare in the world.

In the historical flow of the great friendship between Vietnam and Laos, Nghe An is a locality with an important position, converging common elements, at the same time having many unique and distinct elements. Nghe An has the longest common border with Laos in the country, more than 468km, stretching across 6 districts and 27 communes of the province. The Party Committee, government and people of Nghe An province identify strengthening and promoting comprehensive cooperation with localities of the Lao PDR as one of the particularly important political tasks, always given top priority.

During the resistance war years as well as entering the period of integration and opening, Nghe An province continued to maintain and develop good cooperative and friendly relations with many localities of Laos. Up to now, in addition to traditional cooperation with the three provinces sharing the border, namely Hua Phan, Xieng Khouang, Bo Ly Kham Xay, Nghe An has expanded cooperative relations with the provinces of Vientiane, Khammouane, Savannakhet, Xay Som Bun in many fields.

Delegates attending the celebration. Photo: Thanh Duy

Leaders of provinces of Lao PDR attended the celebration. Photo: Thanh Duy

Not only helping each other in many aspects, Nghe An and Laos are becoming potential economic partners. In the period from 2018 to the second quarter of 2022, the total import and export turnover between Nghe An and Laos reached more than 139 million USD. In the first 6 months of 2022 alone, it reached nearly 35 million USD, 11.5 million USD higher than in 2021. Border trade, transportation, tourism, shopping and resort activities are increasingly vibrant.

Nghe An Provincial Party Secretary Thai Thanh Quy emphasized that in the upcoming development journey, Nghe An province always wishes and is ready to accompany, cooperate and share with Lao provinces in all fields, especially in the fields that both sides need and have strengths. In particular, high priority is given to strengthening strategic infrastructure connections such as highways, border trade, logistics services, seaports, etc.

Delegates attending the celebration. Photo: Thanh Duy

Leaders of provinces of Lao PDR attended the celebration. Photo: Thanh Duy

Continue to improve the quality of cooperation in education, training, health, tourism, science and technology, climate change adaptation, natural disaster prevention, etc., contributing to complementing each other's advantages in socio-economic development; Constantly foster political trust, promote national defense and security cooperation, create a peaceful and stable environment, firmly protect the independence, sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity of each country.

VIETNAM - LAOS RELATIONS WILL BE MORE AND MORE FRUITFUL

At the ceremony, Comrade Bun Chan Si Vong Phan - Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Governor of Xieng Khouang province, on behalf of the senior leaders of the 7 northern and central provinces of the Lao PDR, sent greetings of solidarity, brotherly friendship and deep gratitude from the Lao Party, State and People to the heroic Party, State and People of Vietnam in general and the Party Committee, Government and People of Nghe An province in particular.

Comrade Bun Chan Si Vong Phan - Provincial Party Secretary, Governor of Xieng Khouang province spoke at the ceremony. Photo: Thanh Duy

In the past time, although Vietnam still faced many difficulties, it has given great and valuable assistance to the Party, State and People of Laos in general, and the 7 provinces of Northern and Central Laos in particular. Especially, during the time when the Lao PDR faced difficulties, Vietnam in general and Nghe An province in particular provided timely assistance, vividly demonstrating the rare special relationship between countries in today's era.

Delighted with the great achievements of Vietnam in general and Nghe An province in particular, the Provincial Party Secretary and Governor of Xieng Khouang province expressed that although we still face many difficulties, we promise to stand side by side with the country and people of our brotherly Vietnam to build and develop the two countries comprehensively in all fields, contributing to fostering and promoting our special relationship to become more and more sustainable and fruitful.

Leaders of departments, branches and localities of Nghe An province attended the ceremony. Photo: Thanh Duy

Speaking at the ceremony, Comrade Sengphet Hung Bun Nhuong - Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Lao PDR to Vietnam expressed his pride and honor that no matter how complicated the regional and world situation is, the pure and close relationship between our two countries not only does not fade over time, but also increasingly develops in breadth and depth, becomes more and more effective and brings practical benefits to the people of the two countries in all fields.

The Ambassador was also pleased and appreciated the results of cooperation between Nghe An province and Lao provinces in recent times. In particular, Nghe An province has helped Lao provinces in socio-economic development, supported human resource training, cooperated in fighting and preventing negative acts in border areas to build a peaceful, cooperative and developed border... which is an important foundation for people in the border areas between Nghe An province and Lao provinces to be peaceful, to visit and develop the country together.

Comrade Sengphet Hung Bun Nhuong - Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Lao PDR to Vietnam spoke at the ceremony. Photo: Thanh Duy

The Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Lao PDR to Vietnam also believes that the traditional good friendship between Nghe An province and other Lao provinces will continue to be inherited and promoted, contributing to the development of the relationship between the two Parties, two States and peoples of Vietnam and Laos, and will increasingly bear fruit.

At the same time, he believed that today's celebration would make an important contribution to the propaganda, mobilization and education of the people, especially the young generation of the two countries, to understand more deeply and continue to preserve the unique special relationship between Laos and Vietnam that will last forever, as President Kay Son Phom Vi Han once said, "Mountains can wear away, rivers can dry up, but the Vietnam - Laos friendship will forever be stronger than mountains and rivers."

The leaders of Nghe An province awarded Certificates of Merit from the Chairman of the People's Committee of Nghe An province to 18 groups of Lao PDR for their outstanding achievements in promoting cooperation between Nghe An province and Lao provinces in the period of 2017-2022. Photo: Thanh Duy

Leaders of Nghe An province awarded Certificates of Merit from the Chairman of Nghe An Provincial People's Committee to 28 individuals from Lao PDR for their outstanding achievements in promoting cooperation between Nghe An province and Lao provinces in the period of 2017-2022. Photo: Thanh Duy

Delegates from the two countries attending the ceremony took a souvenir photo. Photo: Thanh Duy

At the ceremony, leaders of Nghe An province awarded Certificates of Merit from the Chairman of Nghe An Provincial People's Committee to 18 groups and 28 individuals from Lao PDR for their outstanding achievements in promoting cooperation between Nghe An province and Lao provinces in the period 2017-2022./.