Lighting candles in tribute to the 'Epic of Vietnam-Laos Friendship'
(Baonghean.vn) - On the evening of July 15th, at the Vietnam-Laos International Martyrs' Cemetery in Anh Son district, Nghe An province, the Provincial Party Committee and People's Committee, in coordination with Nhan Dan Newspaper, the General Political Department of the Vietnam People's Army, the Central Committee of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union, and the Vietnam-Laos Friendship Association, solemnly organized a candle-lighting ceremony to pay tribute to the "Epic of Vietnam-Laos", commemorating the 70th anniversary of the Day of War Invalids and Martyrs, the 40th anniversary of the signing of the Vietnam-Laos Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation, and the 55th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and Laos.
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| Deputy Prime Minister Vuong Dinh Hue offers incense at the graves of martyrs at the Vietnam-Laos International Martyrs Cemetery. Photo: Thanh Cuong. |
| Attending the ceremony were: Comrade Vuong Dinh Hue - Member of the Political Bureau, Deputy Prime Minister; Comrade Truong My Hoa - Former Secretary of the Central Committee of the Party, Former Vice President; Comrades members of the Central Committee of the Party: Tran Van Tuy - Member of the Standing Committee of the National Assembly, Chairman of the Central Committee of the Vietnam-Laos Friendship Association; Phan Dinh Trac - Head of the Central Internal Affairs Committee; Nguyen Thanh Binh - Deputy Head of the Standing Committee of the Central Organization Committee; Nguyen Van Giau - Chairman of the National Assembly's Foreign Affairs Committee; Le Thi Thuy - Deputy Chairman of the Central Inspection Committee; Ho Duc Phoc - Auditor General of the State; Thuan Huu - President of the Vietnam Journalists Association, Editor-in-Chief of Nhan Dan Newspaper; Nguyen The Ky - Director General of the Voice of Vietnam Radio; Lieutenant General Le Chiem - Member of the Central Military Commission, Deputy Minister of National Defense; Nguyen Tan Cuong - Commander of Military Region 4... Comrade Le Quoc Phong - Alternate Member of the Central Committee of the Party, First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Youth Union; Representatives from the provinces and cities of Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, Ha Tinh, Bac Giang, Ha Nam, and Thanh Hoa. Representing Nghe An province were Comrade Nguyen Dac Vinh – Member of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam, Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, and Head of the National Assembly Delegation of Nghe An province; Comrade Nguyen Xuan Son – Standing Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee and Chairman of the Provincial People's Council; and Deputy Secretaries of the Provincial Party Committee Nguyen Xuan Duong - Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee, Nguyen Van Thong, Le Quang Huy, and others.Thai Thanh Quy - Alternate Member of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam, Chief of the Provincial Party Committee Office;....Vietnamese Heroic Mothers, representatives of wounded soldiers, martyrs, and families of those who have rendered meritorious service to the country. The program was attended by delegates from the Lao People's Democratic Republic: Mr. Vilayvonge Budakhame - Member of the Central Committee of the Party, Member of the Standing Committee of the National Assembly, President of the Central Committee of the Lao-Vietnam Friendship Association; Mr. Thongsavanh Phomvihane - Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Lao People's Democratic Republic to Vietnam; and delegates from the provinces of Hua Phan, Xieng Khouang and Bolikhamsai.. |
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| A sacred space at the Vietnam-Laos International Martyrs' Cemetery. Photo: Thanh Cuong. |
At the ceremony, Deputy Prime Minister Vuong Dinh Hue, along with representatives from central ministries and agencies, respectfully offered incense at the graves of martyrs at the Vietnam-Laos International Martyrs' Cemetery, the resting place of more than 11,000 Vietnamese volunteer soldiers and military experts, outstanding sons and daughters from 47 provinces and cities across the country who sacrificed their lives on the battlefields of Laos; expressing boundless gratitude to the generations of ancestors who bravely sacrificed themselves for the independence and freedom of the Fatherland and for the noble cause of the international revolution.
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| Before the main ceremony, delegates offered incense at the Ho Chi Minh Memorial House and to the heroic martyrs at the Vietnam-Laos International Martyrs Cemetery. Photo: Thanh Cuong |
Speaking at the ceremony, Deputy Prime Minister Vuong Dinh Hue recalled the glorious years of the nation's history: "With pure international sentiments for our brotherly neighbor, thousands of Vietnamese volunteer officers and military experts bravely left their homeland to go to Laos, shoulder to shoulder with the people and armed forces of our neighboring country in the two wars of resistance against French colonialism and American imperialism."
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| Delegates attending the "Vietnam-Laos Epic" candlelight vigil. Photo: Thanh Cuong |
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| Deputy Prime Minister Vuong Dinh Hue delivered a speech paying tribute to the heroic martyrs at the ceremony. Photo: Thanh Cuong |
The Vietnamese volunteer soldiers regarded Laos as their second homeland, undeterred by hardship and sacrifice. They fought against enemy raids and encroachments while simultaneously building and strengthening resistance organizations and governments, establishing and protecting liberated areas, reinforcing armed forces, and developing guerrilla warfare throughout Upper, Central, and Lower Laos.
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Numerous people from all over the country came to the Vietnam-Laos International Martyrs' Cemetery to lay flowers and offer incense in remembrance of the heroic martyrs. Photo: Thanh Cuong |
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| We respectfully offer incense to commemorate the immense contributions of the heroic martyrs who fell for the survival of the nation and for the friendship between the two peoples. Photo: Thanh Cuong |
Therefore, wherever the Vietnamese volunteer troops went, they received the affection of the Lao people. In the Land of a Million Elephants, there are still countless landmarks and structures preserving evidence of that special relationship. Thousands of Vietnamese youths fought bravely and tenaciously, dedicating their youth to their neighboring country, fulfilling their international duty, and contributing to the revolutionary cause of both nations.
That sentiment, transcending time and space, has become an invaluable legacy of the two nations, as our beloved President Ho Chi Minh summarized: "Vietnam and Laos, our two countries, have a friendship deeper than the Red River and the Mekong River." The sweat and blood of Vietnamese soldiers and experts have mingled with the blood and sweat of Laotian soldiers and people, becoming a legend in the hearts of the people of both countries, forever remaining a beautiful and pure symbol of the special solidarity and fighting alliance between Vietnam and Laos, Laos and Vietnam, a rare occurrence in the history of relations between nations and peoples around the world.
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| Leaders and former leaders of the Party and State present gifts to express gratitude to Vietnamese Heroic Mothers and relatives of martyrs. Photo: Thanh Cuong. |
Deputy Prime Minister Vuong Dinh Hue stated: For many years, the Party and the State have issued numerous policies and guidelines, paying attention to and compensating those who have rendered meritorious service, wounded soldiers, sick soldiers, former Youth Volunteers, and relatives of heroic martyrs. However, for various reasons, there are still many veterans, wounded soldiers, former Youth Volunteers, and relatives of heroic martyrs who are in difficult circumstances and need support.
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| Comrade Nguyen Dac Vinh delivered a speech expressing gratitude, affirming: Today's generations are determined to live, study, work, and protect the Fatherland in a manner worthy of the sacrifices of the preceding generations. Photo: Thanh Cuong |
This program is also an opportunity for us to collectively call for and mobilize support for the heroic soldiers returning from the front lines who are still facing many hardships and difficulties in life. It is the responsibility of those of us who live in peace and development today to forever remember the contributions of our forefathers who spared no blood, sweat, and sacrifice of their youth for the country.
Speaking at this solemn ceremony, Comrade Nguyen Dac Vinh, on behalf of the Party Committee, government, and people of Nghe An province, expressed profound respect and gratitude to the heroic martyrs, Vietnamese Heroic Mothers, Heroes of the Armed Forces, wounded soldiers, sick soldiers, relatives of martyrs, and families who have contributed to the revolution.
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| Comrade Nguyen Dac Vinh - Member of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam, Secretary of the Nghe An Provincial Party Committee - lights incense at the graves of martyrs at the Vietnam-Laos International Martyrs Cemetery. Photo: Thanh Cuong |
The Provincial Party Secretary reminded everyone of the precious, close-knit friendship between the two nations and affirmed that the fraternal friendship between Vietnam and Laos is an invaluable shared asset. Consistently implementing the foreign policy of the Party and State, the Party Committee, government, and people of Nghe An province have been working together with the rest of the country to further cultivate the Vietnam-Laos friendship. Over the past period, the Provincial Party Committee, the Provincial People's Council, the Provincial People's Committee, the Provincial Fatherland Front Committee, and various departments and socio-political organizations of the province have organized numerous exchange and cooperation activities that have become increasingly in-depth, practical, and effective in all fields.
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| The art program "Epic of Vietnam-Laos". Photo: Thanh Cuong |
Imbued with the principle of "drinking water, remembering the source," today's generations are determined to live, study, work, and protect the Fatherland in a manner worthy of the sacrifices of generations of ancestors; they must continue, preserve, and cultivate the loyal friendship between the two nations and the two Parties, passing it on to future generations.
At the ceremony, Party and State leaders, delegates, and a large number of people from all walks of life met and interacted with veteran revolutionary cadres who had fought and worked in Laos; they listened to meaningful and touching stories to reminisce about the years when Vietnamese cadres and soldiers lived and fought together, their blood mingling with that of the Lao army and people, bringing glorious victory to both nations.
A large number of people from all walks of life enjoyed the spectacular cultural programs celebrating the friendship and unwavering loyalty between Vietnam and Laos.
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| Comrade Nguyen Xuan Duong - Chairman of the People's Committee of Nghe An province, presents commemorative gifts to veterans of the Lao People's Democratic Republic. Photo: Thanh Cuong. |
Also at the ceremony, Deputy Prime Minister Vuong Dinh Hue and representatives of the central ministries and agencies presented gifts to Vietnamese Heroic Mothers and relatives of families with meritorious contributions to the revolution. Mr. Nguyen Xuan Duong, Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee and Chairman of the People's Committee of Nghe An province, presented commemorative gifts to veterans of the Lao People's Democratic Republic.
Reporters' Team
