Deepening the friendship between Vietnam and Laos.

(Baonghean)To celebrate the event at the Thanh Thuy (Nghe An) - Nam On (Bolikhamsai) border gate, Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung and Lao Prime Minister Thongsing Thammavong co-chaired the "Ceremony to welcome the completion of the work to reinforce and renovate the Vietnam-Laos border markers." Many roads in Vinh City and National Highway 46 leading to the Thanh Thuy-Nam On border gate were adorned with flags and flowers, affirming the loyal friendship, special solidarity, and comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and Laos.

Early on the morning of July 8th, a delegation of reporters from media outlets of the Lao People's Democratic Republic arrived in Vinh City to cover this important event. Kong Kham-Duong Keo, a news reporter from the Lao National Television, who studied and researched in Vietnam, speaks Vietnamese quite well. This is Duong Keo's fifth visit to Nghe An, the last being four years ago. Duong Keo emotionally shared: "It's been a long time since I returned to Vinh City, Nghe An. The city has seen a lot of development and change lately."

"Previous visits to Vinh were mainly for professional, cultural, and artistic exchanges… but this time I feel very honored to be able to report on the activities of both Prime Ministers and the ministries, departments, and people of Vietnam and Laos in a very meaningful event, full of warm friendship." When we asked about the Laotians' feelings about the hot weather in Nghe An, Mr. Duong Keo smiled and said, "Oh, it's even hotter here, we can feel the Laotian wind…". That feeling is one of the similarities in climate and topography that Vietnam and Laos share along the Truong Son mountain range.

Not only do the people in the border region of Nghe An share similarities in climate and topography, but their languages ​​and lifestyles also have many similarities with those of the provinces in neighboring Laos. We witnessed this during the welcoming ceremony for the Prime Minister of the Lao People's Democratic Republic, Thoong Sinh Thammavong, 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 both Vietnam and Laos, and during the short time, many of them spoke with Lao officials and staff in their native languages.

Mr. Pha Vanh-Si Li Phong, a specialist from the Lao Ministry of Foreign Affairs, visited Nghe An for the first time. He didn't speak Vietnamese, so he was very happy to be able to talk to young Vietnamese people in the language that the Lao ethnic groups use daily. Meanwhile, Lau Thia Tham, a student at the Ethnic Boarding High School, shared: “I’ve never been to Laos before. Through books and newspapers, I know that our country has many similarities and a close, brotherly relationship. Through this reception of high-ranking leaders and the opportunity to talk with Lao officials, I feel honored and confident that my language can communicate with distinguished guests…”

The students welcomed the Prime Minister of Laos.

Present at Vinh Airport alongside provincial leaders to welcome the Prime Ministers of both countries, Mr. Hoang Dang Hao, Director of the Department of Foreign Affairs, stated: “During the process of reinforcing and renovating the Vietnam-Laos border markers, the Department of Foreign Affairs has been the permanent agency. For nearly six years, we, along with the functional departments and agencies of the province, have closely coordinated with the departments of the three provinces of Xieng Khouang, Hua Phan, and Bolikhamsai to complete the reinforcement and renovation of 105 locations with 116 border markers and 6 boundary posts. For many days now, under the direction and guidance of central ministries and agencies, we, together with other departments and agencies, have meticulously prepared to welcome the delegations from our neighboring country. This is one of our important tasks. On this occasion, over 200 guests, including high-ranking officials from Laos, have come to Vinh City and participated in the welcoming ceremony at the Thanh Thuy-Nam On border gate. All reception and security arrangements have been meticulously and cordially organized…”

During the meeting between Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung and Lao Prime Minister Thongsing Thammavong on the afternoon of July 8th in Vinh City, the two Prime Ministers highly appreciated the completion of the work to reinforce and renovate the Vietnam-Laos border markers on the ground. They considered this a significant political event in the relations between the two countries, a vivid manifestation of the traditional friendship, special solidarity, and comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and Laos. They affirmed that they would continue to direct relevant agencies of both sides to coordinate closely to complete the entire program of reinforcing and renovating the border markers by 2014. The two Prime Ministers and their respective ministries also witnessed the signing ceremony of the "Government-level Agreement on resolving the issue of free migrants and unregistered marriages in the Vietnam-Laos border region".

The ceremony celebrating the completion of the work to reinforce and renovate the Vietnam-Laos border markers on the ground at Thanh Thuy-Nam On border gate is an event of great significance for the people of both countries. It makes an important contribution to improving the effectiveness of border management, strengthening national defense and security, and creating favorable conditions for the socio-economic development of the border region, for a peaceful, friendly, cooperative, and mutually developing border.

NGUYEN SON