The General Secretary and President of the Lao People's Democratic Republic visits Nghe An.

(Baonghean.vn) - On the afternoon of December 20th, 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-level delegation of the Lao Party and StateBeginning the visit to Nghe An province.

The welcoming ceremony for Comrade Bounnhang Vorachit, General Secretary and President of the Lao People's Democratic Republic, on his visit to Nghe An at Vinh Airport. Photo: Duc Anh.

Comrade Bunnhang Volachit thanked the Party Committee, government, and people of Nghe An province for welcoming the high-level delegation of the Lao Party and State to Nghe An with respect and warmth.

General Secretary and President of the Lao People's Democratic Republic, Bounnhang Vorachit, stated that this official friendship visit to Vietnam aims to summarize and conclude the 2017 Laos-Vietnam, Vietnam-Laos Friendship and Solidarity Year, commemorate the 55th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations, and the 40th anniversary of the signing of the Laos-Vietnam, Vietnam-Laos Friendship and Cooperation Treaty.

"The 2017 Year of Friendship has come to an end, but cooperation between the two countries continues to develop even better," affirmed Comrade Bounnhang Vorachit.

General Secretary and President of the Lao People's Democratic Republic, Bounnhang Vorachit, affirmed his desire 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 People's Democratic Republic expressed his pleasure at visiting Nghe An - the birthplace of President Ho Chi Minh. Although Nghe An faces many difficulties, especially the impact of natural disasters, under the leadership of the Party Committee and government, and with the efforts of the people, the province has overcome difficulties, developed rapidly in all aspects, and the people's living standards have improved significantly.

Ceremony to welcome General Secretary and President of the Lao People's Democratic Republic, Bounnhang Vorachit, on his visit to Nghe An.

On behalf of the Party Committee, government, military, and people of Nghe An province, Comrade Nguyen Dac Vinh expressed his joy, excitement, and pride in welcoming Comrade Bounnhang Vorachit and the high-level delegation of the Lao Party and State to Nghe An province within the framework of their official friendly visit to Vietnam.

Provincial Party Secretary Nguyen Dac Vinh gave a general report on the geographical location and socio-economic situation of the province in 2017. In particular, given its unique characteristic of having the longest land border with Laos in the country (419.5 km), bordering three provinces of Laos – Xieng Khouang, Bolikhamsai, and Hua Phan – the Provincial Party Secretary emphasized: “Nghe An has a very good traditional relationship with many provinces of our neighboring country, Laos.”

Every year, Nghe An province organizes numerous delegations to visit, work, exchange experiences, extend New Year greetings, and maintain a system of regular high-level talks on a rotating basis with Xieng Khouang and Bolikhamsai provinces.

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

In particular, 2017 was the year of Vietnam-Laos and Laos-Vietnam Friendship and Solidarity, and Nghe An province participated very actively with many activities. A delegation from 7 Lao provinces came to Nghe An to attend the ceremony commemorating the 55th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations and the 40th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation between Vietnam and Laos, and Laos and Vietnam.

Nghe An province has actively supported and assisted Lao provinces in several projects and is currently the investor for the 200-bed Xieng Khouang Friendship Hospital project, funded by the Vietnamese government.

The Provincial Party Secretary also stated that Nghe An province is very pleased to receive the news that the governments of the two countries have decided to build the Hanoi-Vientiane expressway, with a route passing through the Thanh Thuy border gate. "This will be a great opportunity for Nghe An province to connect with our neighboring country Laos and Northeast Thailand," Comrade Nguyen Dac Vinh remarked.

Nghe An province has approximately 90 import-export and investment enterprises operating in the Lao market, with a total investment capital exceeding 200 million USD. In 2017, the total import-export turnover between Nghe An and Laos reached 16.67 million USD. Nghe An consistently facilitates the import and export of goods and vehicles through its seaports for provinces in Laos.

Nghe An province presents a commemorative gift to the General Secretary and President of the Lao People's Democratic Republic, Bounnhang Vorachit. Photo: Duc Anh.

In terms of education and training, Nghe An helps train cadres for the provinces of Laos, and currently there are 740 Lao officials and students studying at universities in Nghe An.

"We truly hope to further strengthen solidarity and friendship with the people and localities of our neighboring country Laos, and continue to build a comprehensive and in-depth cooperative relationship," the Secretary of the Nghe An Provincial Party Committee emphasized.

The Provincial Party Secretary also promised the leaders of the Vietnamese and Lao Parties and States that Nghe An province would do its utmost to consolidate and further promote the long-standing and special traditional friendship between the two countries.

General Secretary and President of the Lao People's Democratic Republic, Bounnhang Vorachit, highly appreciated the sincere assistance of Nghe An province to Laos both during the resistance war and in the current period of national construction.

General Secretary and President of the Lao People's Democratic Republic, Bounnhang Vorachit, presents a commemorative gift to Nghe An province. Photo: Duc Anh.

According to the Secretary and President of the Lao People's Democratic Republic, the development of Nghe An province not only improves the material and spiritual lives of the people but also helps, supports, and contributes to the development of other provinces in Laos, especially in the training of cadres. "This is a valuable asset that the province has provided to Laos," Comrade Bunnhang Volachit shared.

Emphasizing that Nghe An province has many strengths in agriculture, industry, services, and tourism, and that Laos also has strengths, the General Secretary and President of the Lao People's Democratic Republic proposed that the two sides continue to cooperate closely to accelerate the development process.

That evening, Nghe An province solemnly hosted a grand reception to welcome the General Secretary and President of the Lao People's Democratic Republic, along with other high-ranking leaders of the Lao and Vietnamese Parties and States, to Nghe An province.

Thanh Duy