General Secretary and President of Lao PDR visits Nghe An

(Baonghean.vn) - On the afternoon of December 20, Comrade Bounnhang Vorachit, General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party - President of the Lao People's Democratic Republic and a high-ranking delegation of the Lao Party and Statestarted a visit to Nghe An province.

Welcoming ceremony for Comrade Bounnhang Vorachit, General Secretary and President of the Lao PDR, on his visit to Nghe An at Vinh airport. Photo: Duc Anh

Comrade Bun-nhang Vo-la-chit thanked the Party Committee, government and people of Nghe An province for welcoming the high-ranking delegation of the Lao Party and State to visit Nghe An with a warm and respectful spirit.

General Secretary and President of the Lao PDR Bounnhang Vorachit said that this official friendship visit to Vietnam aims to summarize and close the Laos-Vietnam, Vietnam-Laos Friendship and Solidarity Year 2017, celebrate the 55th anniversary of establishing diplomatic relations, and the 40th anniversary of signing the Laos-Vietnam, Vietnam-Laos Treaty of Amity and Cooperation.

"The 2017 friendship year has ended, but cooperation between the two countries continues to develop even better," Comrade Bun-nhang Vo-la-chit affirmed.

General Secretary and President of the Lao PDR Bounnhang Vorachit affirmed his wish for the cooperative relationship between Nghe An and Laos to develop further. Photo: Duc Anh

At the reception, the General Secretary and President of the Lao PDR expressed his joy when visiting Nghe An - the homeland of President Ho Chi Minh. Although Nghe An has faced many difficulties, especially the impact of natural disasters, under the leadership of the Party Committee, the government and the efforts of the people, the province has overcome difficulties, developed rapidly in all aspects, and people's lives have been increasingly improved.

Welcoming ceremony for General Secretary and President of Lao PDR Bounnhang Vorachit visiting Nghe An

On behalf of the Party Committee, government, army and people of Nghe An province, comrade Nguyen Dac Vinh expressed his joy, excitement and pride to welcome comrade Bun-nhang Vo-la-chit and the high-ranking delegation of the Lao Party and State to visit Nghe An province within the framework of the official friendship visit to Vietnam.

Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee Nguyen Dac Vinh gave an overview of the province's geographical location and socio-economic situation in 2017. In particular, with the characteristic of having the longest land border with Laos in the country (419.5 km), bordering 3 provinces of Laos: Xieng Khouang, Bolikhamxay, Hua Phan, the Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee emphasized: "Nghe An has a very good traditional relationship with many provinces of Laos".

Every year, Nghe An province organizes many delegations to visit, work, exchange experiences, celebrate the traditional New Year, and maintain a regular rotating high-level meeting regime with Xieng Khouang and Bolikhamxay provinces.

The Provincial Party Secretary affirmed that Nghe An province will do its utmost to consolidate and continue to promote the long-standing and special traditional friendship between the two countries. Photo: Duc Anh

In particular, 2017 is the year of Vietnam - Laos, Laos - Vietnam Friendship and Solidarity, Nghe An province actively participated in many activities and the delegation of 7 Lao provinces went to Nghe An to attend the ceremony to celebrate the 55th anniversary of establishing diplomatic relations, 40 years of signing the Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation between Vietnam - Laos, Laos - Vietnam.

Nghe An has actively supported and helped Lao provinces with a number of projects and is currently the investor of the 200-bed Xieng Khouang Friendship Hospital sponsored by the Vietnamese Government.

The Provincial Party Secretary also said that Nghe An province was very excited to receive the news that the two governments had decided to build the Hanoi - Vientiane expressway and that the route would pass through Thanh Thuy border gate. "This will be a great opportunity for Nghe An province to connect with Laos and northeastern Thailand," said Nguyen Dac Vinh.

Nghe An has about 90 import-export enterprises and invests in the Lao market with a total investment capital of more than 200 million USD. In 2017, the total import-export turnover between Nghe An and Laos reached 16.67 million USD. Nghe An always creates favorable conditions for Lao provinces to import and export goods and vehicles through seaports.

Nghe An province presents a souvenir to General Secretary and President of the Lao PDR Bounnhang Vorachit. Photo: Duc Anh

Regarding education and training, Nghe An helps train human resources for Lao provinces and currently there are 740 Laotian cadres and students studying at Nghe An universities.

“We really wish to further strengthen solidarity and friendship with the people and localities of Laos, and continue to build a comprehensive and in-depth cooperative relationship,” emphasized the Secretary of the Nghe An Provincial Party Committee.

The Provincial Party Secretary also promised the leaders of the Party and State of Vietnam and Laos that Nghe An province will do its utmost to consolidate and continue to promote the long-standing and special traditional friendship between the two countries.

General Secretary and President of the Lao PDR Bounnhang Vorachit highly appreciated Nghe An province's wholehearted support for Laos both during the resistance war and in the current period of national construction.

General Secretary and President of the Lao PDR Bounnhang Vorachit presents souvenirs to Nghe An province. Photo: Duc Anh

According to the Secretary and President of the Lao PDR, the development of Nghe An not only improves the material and spiritual life of the people of the province but also helps, supports and contributes to the development of the provinces of Laos, especially in training cadres. "This is a valuable resource that the province has helped Laos" - Comrade Bun-nhang Vo-la-chit shared.

Emphasizing that Nghe An province has many strengths in agriculture, industry, services, and tourism, and Laos also has strengths, the General Secretary and President of the Lao PDR suggested that the two sides continue to cooperate closely to promote faster development.

On the same evening, Nghe An province solemnly held a reception to welcome the General Secretary and President of the Lao PDR and senior leaders of the Lao and Vietnamese Party and State to Nghe An province.

Thanh Duy