Deputy Minister Dang Dinh Quy: 'Vietnam - Laos relationship is a priceless asset'

Having gone through both difficult and glorious moments of history, the Vietnam - Laos relationship has increasingly developed and deepened.

The Vietnam-Laos relationship has now been 55 years since the official establishment of diplomatic relations. Having gone through both difficult and glorious moments of history, the Vietnam-Laos relationship has grown and deepened.

In 2017, the two sides held many practical activities to celebrate the Vietnam-Laos Solidarity and Friendship Year. On this occasion, Deputy Foreign Minister Dang Dinh Quy answered questions from the press about the outstanding achievements in the Vietnam-Laos Solidarity and Friendship Year and the role of the young generation in preserving and developing the special relationship between the two countries.

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Dang Dinh Quy. Photo: vovworld.vn

PV:Could the Deputy Minister give a general assessment of the outstanding achievements in the special and comprehensive solidarity relationship between Vietnam and Laos during the Vietnam - Laos Solidarity and Friendship Year 2017?

Deputy Minister Dang Dinh Quy: 2017 is the Year of Vietnam - Laos Solidarity and Friendship, along with the events of the 40th anniversary of the signing of the Vietnam - Laos Treaty of Amity and Cooperation (July 18, 1977 - July 18, 2017) and the 55th anniversary of the establishment of Vietnam - Laos diplomatic relations (September 5, 1962 - September 5, 2017).

The outstanding achievement of 2017 was that the two sides successfully organized more than 200 commemorative activities from the central to local levels, including activities jointly organized in both the capitals of Vientiane (Laos) and Hanoi (Vietnam). These activities contributed to educating the people, especially the younger generation, about the special nature of the Vietnam-Laos relationship, while at the same time, arousing pride and responsibility to preserve and promote this relationship to develop further in the future.

On this occasion, with the strong direction of the leaders of the Party, the State, the Intergovernmental Cooperation Committee of the two countries and relevant agencies, many specific measures have been implemented to promote the bilateral relationship to achieve substantive results. Regarding economic relations, infrastructure connection projects and policy connection projects have been focused on implementation. Many long-standing issues in the economic relationship between the two countries have been resolved.

Another content that is also given special priority is education and training with a series of measures to increase the input quality of Lao students studying in Vietnam, while improving programs and policies for Lao students to create momentum and improve the efficiency and quality of training for human resources for Laos in the coming time.

PV:The special relationship between Vietnam and Laos has gone through many harsh challenges, sacrifices and hardships for the independence, freedom and happiness of the two nations and peoples. According to the Deputy Minister, how will the solidarity and special relationship between Vietnam and Laos be preserved in the coming time?

Deputy Minister Dang Dinh Quy: In the past, the special and invaluable relationship between the two countries was built with the blood, tears and sacrifices of many generations. Besides the responsibility for the sacrifices of our ancestors, there is also a natural connection that the two countries cannot abandon. That is the 2,340 km border connecting the two countries which has direct significance to the security of each side, requiring mutual preservation; the political benefits when the two countries are both led by the Communist Party, advancing towards Socialism; the two countries are united in "One Vision, One Identity, One ASEAN Community". In the past, present and future, there are intertwined factors of mutual interests between Laos and Vietnam that cannot be abandoned.

In addition, people-to-people exchanges and cultural similarities are nowhere in the world as close as Laos and Vietnam, which are invaluable assets.

PV:Could the Deputy Minister say a little about the role of the young generation, the bridge for the Vietnam - Laos relationship?

Deputy Minister Dang Dinh Quy: The young generation plays a very important role in promoting the Vietnam - Laos relationship. The difficulty is that the young generation only knows history through books and stories, there is no blood connection there. Therefore, we must find a way to make them see that the benefits of the bond between the two countries and two peoples are sustainable and forever.

Understanding that story, we can see that the friend beside us is precious, living fully with the past and with the future, for our own benefit. If the young generation does not understand that, but only sees the benefits from relations with richer, more civilized countries and forgets the close friends who share the joys and sorrows with us, then they will have no roots and will not be able to develop.

The Lao Foreign Minister gave a talk for more than 2 hours at the Diplomatic Academy, after which students asked 10 questions. All of those questions showed the interest of the younger generation in the connotation of the special relationship, in the future of the special relationship and the responsibility of the younger generation in maintaining and developing that special relationship in the future.

Therefore, both sides need to actively promote, educate and explain on a scientific basis the origin of the Vietnam - Laos relationship from the past to the present to the younger generation. As well as the connotation of the special relationship in the current context so that they can see the benefits as well as the important reasons why both Vietnam and Laos must maintain and continue that special relationship.

PV: Thank you, Deputy Minister./.

According to VOV