Warm friendship between Vietnam and Laos

Le Xuan Dai

(Member of the Provincial Party Committee, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee, Chairman of the Vietnam - Laos Friendship Association of Nghe An province)

(Baonghean) - After many years of resistance, 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 history of Laos, becoming a national festival and National Day for the Lao ethnic people.

In the struggle against foreign invaders and in the construction of the country, the two countries of Vietnam and Laos, including Nghe An, Xieng Khouang, Bolikhamxay and Hua Phan, are close neighbors, leaning against the majestic Truong Son mountain range, having a long-standing close relationship in many aspects, becoming loyal and steadfast friends. In recent years, the friendship and cooperation between Vietnam and Laos in general, and between Nghe An and the border provinces in particular, have had new developments.

Signing of the twinning agreement between Nam Tay village (Hua Phan, Laos) and Muong Phu village (Thong Thu commune, Que Phong district, Vietnam). Photo: HT

Up to now, Nghe An has had over 80 enterprises participating in import-export business activities 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, long-term industrial tree planting and international tourism tours. In the first 10 months of 2014, Nghe An exported to the Lao market 26.80 million USD, imported 74.49 million USD, including the following items: gasoline, cement, construction steel, tiles, roofing sheets of all kinds, sawn timber, round timber, scrap iron, scrap plastic and other products. The preferential tariff on corn kernels alone reached 834,000 USD. In particular, since January 2014, the Vinh - Vientiane flight route has been put into operation with a frequency of 4 flights/week, creating favorable conditions for the two sides to enhance exchanges, cooperation and trade; The Vinh - Vientiane, Vinh - Phonsavan, Vinh - Thakhek, Vinh - Luang Prabang bus routes are increasingly crowded with passengers. With 7 fixed routes, the frequency of 158 trips/month. Thanks to that, 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 2014, the number of Lao and Thai tourists to Nghe An reached over 7,000. Nghe An tourists visiting the Plain of Jars, Vientiane Capital, Luang Prabang Ancient Capital 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.

Coordinated patrols to protect border security. Photo: HT

Regarding education and training, Nghe An helps train cadres for Lao provinces. In 2014 - 2015, Nghe An received 95 cadres and students from the provinces of Xieng Khouang, Bolikhamxay, Hua Phan, Vientiane, and Kham Muon to study Vietnamese at Nghe An Pedagogical College. 375 Lao students are studying at Vinh University, Vinh Medical University, Vinh Technical Pedagogical University, Nghe An University of Economics, and 10 cadres are studying for Master's degrees. This is a quality source for the current and future leadership and economic and technical cadres of Laos. Nghe An opens Lao language classes for state cadres, ethnic cadres, border guards, and businessmen cooperating with Laos.

In particular, the Party's foreign affairs, State's foreign affairs, and people's foreign affairs are focused on and enhanced by Nghe An province. The exchange of high-level delegations, the signing of cooperation agreements, create the basis and favorable conditions for the delegations of the Party, agencies, departments, branches, mass mobilization blocs and localities of the two sides to regularly exchange and learn from each other's experiences. The Youth Union and Women's Union of Nghe An have friendly exchanges with the two provinces of Xieng Khouang and Luang Prabang. Volunteer students of Vinh University go to Phonsavan to teach Vietnamese and exchange culture and arts with Lao youth and students...

In 2014, Nghe An received the remains and held a memorial service for the heroes and martyrs at the Vietnam - Laos Friendship Cemetery, Anh Son Town and Do Luong District, expressing gratitude "When drinking water, remember its source" for the heroes and martyrs who sacrificed for the noble international revolutionary cause. The visits to pay tribute to 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, and attending the 65th anniversary of the Vietnam - Laos Solidarity Alliance have truly had the meaning of encouraging and educating the spirit of international solidarity for the young generations of the two countries.

Nghe An is promoting the completion of the thickening and renovation of the Vietnam - Laos border marker system in the field and the noble awards of medals, badges, and certificates of merit from the Lao People's Democratic Republic to the Party Committee, government, departments, branches, units, and individuals with outstanding achievements contributing to the Lao revolution.

In 2014, 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; combating illegal migration, encroachment, and marriage without a certificate; illegal proselytizing; storing, trading, and transporting drugs and prohibited goods across the border; replanting opium; preventing and foiling all plots of hostile forces to sabotage and divide the solidarity between Vietnam and Laos; propagating and mobilizing people to strictly implement the Agreement on Border Regulations between Vietnam and Laos; organizing twinning between districts and districts, villages and villages (18 pairs of villages), and border posts and posts on both sides of the border.

In addition, the Vietnam - Laos Friendship Association also publishes the quarterly newsletter "Vietnam - Laos Friendship"; coordinates with the provincial Radio and Television Station, Nghe An Newspaper to publish many news 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 exhibition room "Life and career of comrade Kaysone Phomvihane" at the Nghe Tinh Soviet Museum.

In addition, Nghe An province also has many social activities and investments to support Lao provinces, especially those sharing the border. The Provincial People's Committee supports Xieng Khouang province to build a provincial cultural house with a budget of 1,982,000 USD, helps with rice seeds, corn seeds and NPK fertilizers to build an intensive agricultural model; each year spends 6.5 billion VND to support human resource training for Lao provinces; helps Hua Phan province design the Sam Tay route to Thong Thu - Que Phong border gate; advises on investment in building a 90 km long route from Thanh Thuy border gate to Pacxan - Bolykhamxay. Nghe An and Lao provinces continue to cooperate in developing the Mekong River region and the East - West economic corridor.

Celebrating the 39th National Day of the Lao PDR, reviewing the glorious journey of the Vietnam-Laos solidarity and fighting alliance, cooperation in the renovation period, to be more proud of the great victories that the Lao ethnic people have strived to achieve over the past 39 years. 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 a new height, forever green, forever sustainable, as the teachings of beloved President Ho Chi Minh:

"If we love each other, we can climb any mountain"

I can wade through any river and cross any pass.

Vietnam - Laos, our two countries

Love is deeper than the waters of the Red River and the Mekong River”./.

LXĐ