Deputy Prime Minister Truong Hoa Binh: Promoting the great friendship between Vietnam and Laos

On the morning of December 7, in Vinh City, Nghe An, the Vietnam Ethnic Committee, the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front coordinated with the Central Committee of the Lao Front for National Construction and the Lao Ministry of Interior to organize the Workshop "Continuing to foster the great friendship between Vietnam - Laos, Laos - Vietnam and sharing experiences in ethnic work".

Attending the conference on the Lao side were comrades: Say Som Phon Phom Vi Han - Politburo member, Chairman of the Central Committee of the Lao Front for National Construction; Kham Bay Dam Lat - Party Central Committee member, Vice Chairman of the Central Committee of the Lao Front for National Construction; Kham Man Sun Vi Lot - Party Central Committee member, Minister of Home Affairs of Laos.

On the Vietnamese side, there were comrades: Truong Hoa Binh - Politburo member, Permanent Deputy Prime Minister; Tran Thanh Man - Secretary of the Party Central Committee, Chairman of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee; Party Central Committee members: Do Van Chien - Minister, Chairman of the Vietnam Ethnic Committee; Hau A Lenh - Vice President and General Secretary of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Central Committee; Dieu K' Re - Deputy Head of the Central Committee for Mass Mobilization.

On the side of Nghe An province, there were comrades: Thai Thanh Quy - Alternate member of the Party Central Committee, Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee; comrades in the Standing Committee of the Provincial Party Committee, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee; representatives of provincial departments, branches and sectors; Also attending were more than 300 delegates representing leaders, cadres working on ethnic affairs, fronts at all levels, prestigious people of 10 pairs of provinces along the Vietnam - Laos, Laos - Vietnam border. Photo: Thanh Cuong

Speaking at the opening of the workshop, Permanent Deputy Prime Minister Truong Hoa Binh emphasized: 2019 is of special significance to the people of Vietnam and Laos. The two Parties and States, on the occasion of the official visit to Vietnam by Lao Prime Minister Thong Loun Sioulith from October 1-3, 2019, issued a Joint Statement between the Socialist Republic of Vietnam and the Lao People's Democratic Republic on strengthening the great friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and Laos, Laos and Vietnam.

The two countries' senior leaders affirmed their determination to preserve, nurture and develop bilateral relations in the spirit of independence, self-reliance, self-improvement, promoting the strengths and capabilities of both sides; at the same time, constantly improving the effectiveness and quality of cooperation for the benefit of each country's people, contributing to peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region and the world.

The official visit to Vietnam by the high-ranking delegation of the Central Committee of the Lao Front for National Construction and the organization of people-to-people exchanges between representatives of ethnic minorities and prestigious people living along the Vietnam-Laos border held in Nghe An province from December 5-8, 2019 is an opportunity to continue raising awareness of sectors, levels, localities, especially ethnic minority communities, about the significance and importance of the tradition of friendship and the wholehearted support between the two Parties, two States and peoples of the two countries in the past struggle for national independence as well as in the construction and development of each country today. Thereby, we can see more clearly the responsibility and awareness of preserving and promoting the loyal and close relationship for future generations.

Permanent Deputy Prime Minister Truong Hoa Binh delivered the opening speech at the workshop. Photo: Thanh Cuong

According to Permanent Deputy Prime Minister Truong Hoa Binh, the organization of the workshop "Continuing to foster the great friendship between Vietnam and Laos, Laos and Vietnam and sharing experiences in ethnic work" is to deeply and comprehensively analyze issues regarding the role of the political system at all levels, of ethnic minority communities, and prestigious people living along the Vietnam - Laos border.

At the same time, the workshop is also an opportunity to continue to foster the great tradition of friendship between the two neighboring countries, towards the common goals that the two Parties and two States have pointed out in ensuring security and national defense in mountainous ethnic minority areas; mobilizing and promoting the role of prestigious people in ethnic minority areas to ensure great national unity, firmly building the people's security posture, national defense in ethnic minority areas; solutions for socio-economic development, preserving and promoting national cultural identity; at the same time, sharing good experiences and valuable lessons in ethnic work of the two countries.

Bilateral patrol to protect the Vietnam - Laos border. Photo: Hai Thuong

“This is an opportunity for us to further strengthen the solidarity between our two peoples and countries, as well as the close relationship between the peoples on both sides of the Truong Son mountain range,” Deputy Prime Minister Truong Hoa Binh emphasized.

Comrade Truong Hoa Binh expressed his belief that the success of the workshop will contribute to promoting the great friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between the two countries to develop more strongly and achieve practical results, for the benefit of the two peoples, for peace, stability and prosperity in the region and the world.