Awarding Orders and Medals to Volunteers and Military Experts in Laos

(Baonghean.vn) - On the morning of January 8, in Vinh City, a ceremony was held to present medals and insignia of the Lao Party and State to Vietnamese volunteer soldiers and military experts in Laos - Nghe An province.

Attending the ceremony, on the side of Nghe An province, there was comrade Le Xuan Dai - Member of the Provincial Party Committee Standing Committee, Permanent Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee, Chairman of the Vietnam - Laos Friendship Association. On the side of Military Region 4, there was Colonel Ha Tan Tien - Deputy Commander of the Military Region. On the side of the Lao Embassy in Vietnam, there was comrade Phomma Sitsena - Envoy.

Also attending were representatives of relevant departments, agencies and sectors, along with nearly 300 delegates and relatives of 2,700 former military experts and Nghe An volunteer soldiers who performed international duty in Laos.

Ceremony scene.

During the two wars, the Vietnamese army stood shoulder to shoulder, overcame countless sacrifices and hardships, and fought alongside the Lao revolutionary armed forces. Nghe An province alone had thousands of its sons standing in the ranks of volunteer military units and military experts fighting and working in Laos.

Delegates attending the ceremony.

In recognition of the heroic achievements and sacrifices of Vietnamese volunteer soldiers and experts in Laos, in 2016, the State and Government of the Lao PDR decided to award medals and orders to nearly 9,000 Vietnamese volunteer soldiers.

Among these, Nghe An has 3 martyrs posthumously awarded the First Class Freedom Medal by the President of the Lao PDR, 8 individuals awarded the First Class Victory Medal by the President of the Lao PDR and 3 individuals awarded the Anti-French and Anti-American Medals by the Prime Minister of the Lao PDR.

Comrade Nguyen Thanh Nhan - Deputy Director of the Department of Home Affairs, Head of the Provincial Emulation and Reward Board read the order of the President and Prime Minister of the Lao PDR on rewarding Vietnamese experts and volunteer soldiers.

Speaking at the ceremony, Comrade Phomma Sitsena affirmed that the exemplary, loyal, and rare relationship between Vietnam and Laos is a priceless asset of the two peoples for future generations, as President Kaysone Phomvihane once said: "Mountains may wear away, rivers may dry up, but the Laos-Vietnam friendship will forever be stronger than mountains and rivers."

“The Lao Party, State, army and people cannot and will never forget the great, timely, and wholehearted assistance that the fraternal Party, State, army and people of Vietnam have given to the Lao revolution,” he emphasized.

Representatives of the Lao Embassy in Vietnam awarded Orders and Medals of the Lao PDR to former Vietnamese experts and volunteer soldiers in Laos.

Standing Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Le Xuan Dai affirmed that the relationship between Nghe An and the border provinces of Xieng Khouang, Hua Phan, and Bolikhamxay has been increasingly nurtured and developed, demonstrated by the good results achieved in 2016 in many fields.

On behalf of the provincial leaders, comrade Le Xuan Dai affirmed that in the process of renovation, Vietnam and Laos have achieved great achievements of historical significance in terms of economy, society and foreign affairs. The comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and Laos in general, Nghe An and the border provinces of Xieng Khouang, Hua Phan, Bolikhamxay in particular, has been increasingly developed, demonstrated by the good results achieved in 2016 in many fields.

Congratulating the former military experts and volunteer soldiers on receiving the noble awards presented by the Lao Party, State and people, the Standing Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee further emphasized: "I hope and believe that you will continue to promote the qualities of revolutionary cadres and Uncle Ho's soldiers, worthy of the recognition and honor of the Lao Party, State and people, and constantly foster the Vietnam - Laos friendship to be forever green and everlasting."

Special performance to welcome the ceremony.

Thu Giang