Warm Vietnam - Laos friendship

(Baonghean) -Welcoming the event at Thanh Thuy (Nghe An) - Nam On (Bolikhamxay) Border Gate, Prime Minister of Vietnam Nguyen Tan Dung and Prime Minister of Lao PDR Thoong Sinh Tham-ma-vong co-chaired the "Celebration Ceremony for the Completion of the Work to Increase and Upgrade Border Markers between Vietnam and Laos". Many roads in Vinh City and National Highway 46 leading to Thanh Thuy - Nam On Border Gate were decorated with flags and flowers, affirming the loyal friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and Laos.

From early morning on July 8, a group of reporters from Lao PDR press agencies were present in Vinh City to report on this important event. Current Affairs reporter, Lao National Television Kong Kham-Duong Keo, who studied and researched in Vietnam, speaks Vietnamese quite well. This is Duong Keo's 5th time coming to Nghe An, the last time was 4 years ago. Duong Keo emotionally confided: "It's been a long time since I've been back to Vinh City - Nghe An, the city has recently developed and innovated a lot.

The previous times I came to Vinh, I mainly participated in professional, cultural and artistic exchange activities... but this time I feel very honored to reflect on the activities of both Prime Ministers and ministries, branches and people of Vietnam and Laos in a very meaningful event, warm with friendship". We asked about the Lao friends' feelings about the hot weather in Nghe An, Duong Keo smiled: "Oh, it's sunnier here, when we come here we can feel the Lao wind...". That feeling is one of the similarities in climate and terrain that Vietnam and Laos share in the Truong Son range.

Not only are the climate and terrain similar, but the language and lifestyle of the people in the border areas of Nghe An and the provinces of Laos also have many similarities. We witnessed this during the welcoming ceremony for the Prime Minister of the Lao PDR - Thoong Sinh Tham-ma-vong at Vinh Airport. While waiting for the plane to arrive, dozens of students from the provincial Ethnic Boarding High School happily held the flags of Vietnam and Laos, taking advantage of the limited time, many of them talked to the officials and employees of Laos in their own language.

Mr. Pha Vanh-Si li Phong, an expert from the Lao Ministry of Foreign Affairs, came to Nghe An for the first time and did not know Vietnamese, so he was very happy to talk to young Vietnamese people in the language that Lao ethnic people still use every day. As for Lau Thia Tham, a student at the Ethnic Boarding High School, confided: “I have never been to Laos. Through books and newspapers, I learned about the friendly country that has many similarities with our country and a warm brotherly relationship. Through the reception of high-ranking leaders and talking with Lao officials, I feel honored and confident that my people's language can communicate with distinguished guests…”.

Students welcome the Lao Prime Minister.

Present with the provincial leaders to welcome the Prime Ministers of the two countries at Vinh Airport, Mr. Hoang Dang Hao - Director of the Department of Foreign Affairs said: “In the process of implementing the work of increasing the thickness and embellishing the Vietnam-Laos border markers, the Department of Foreign Affairs is the standing agency. For nearly 6 years, we, together with the functional departments and branches of the province, have closely coordinated with the departments of the 3 provinces of Xieng Khouang, Hua Phan and Bolikhamxay to complete the increase and embellishment of 105 locations with 116 markers and 6 markers. For many days now, under the direction and guidance of the central ministries and branches, we, together with the departments and branches, have carefully implemented the reception of delegations from neighboring countries. This is one of the important tasks. On this occasion, there were over 200 guests who are officials and senior officials from neighboring Laos coming to Vinh City and participating in the welcoming ceremony at Thanh Thuy-Nam On Border Gate. All reception and protection work was organized carefully and friendly... ”.

During the meeting between Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung and Prime Minister of the Lao PDR Thoong-Sinh Tham-ma-vong on the afternoon of July 8, in Vinh City, the two Prime Ministers highly appreciated the event of completing the work of increasing and renovating the Vietnam-Laos border markers in the field, considering this an important political event in the relationship between the two countries, a vivid manifestation of the traditional friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and Laos; affirming that they will continue to direct the functional agencies of the two sides to closely coordinate to complete the entire Program of increasing and renovating the border markers of the two countries in 2014. The two Prime Ministers and ministries of the two countries also witnessed the signing ceremony of the "Government-level Agreement on resolving the issue of spontaneous migration and unregistered marriages in the Vietnam-Laos border area".

The ceremony to celebrate the completion of the work of increasing and renovating the Vietnam-Laos border markers in the field at Thanh Thuy-Nam On Border Gate is an event of great significance to the people of the two countries, contributing significantly to improving the effectiveness of border management, consolidating national defense and security, creating favorable conditions for the construction and socio-economic development of the border area, for a peaceful, friendly, cooperative and mutually developed border.

NGUYEN SON