Fostering special friendship and comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and Laos

(Baonghean) - After many years of hardship, fighting and sacrifice for independence and freedom, under the wise leadership of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party and the Lao Itxala Front, on December 2, 1975, the Lao ethnic people rose up to overthrow the monarchy and establish the Lao People's Democratic Republic. This is a brilliant milestone in the modern history of Laos, becoming a national festival and National Day of the Lao ethnic people.

In the struggle against foreign invaders and in the construction of the country, the two countries of Vietnam and Laos, including Nghe An, Xieng Khouang, Bolikhamxay and Hua Phan, are close neighbors, leaning against the majestic Truong Son mountain range, having a long-standing close relationship in many aspects, becoming loyal and steadfast friends. The Communist Party of Vietnam and the Lao People's Revolutionary Party were firmly founded by President Ho Chi Minh and President Kaysone Phomvihane, and were diligently cultivated by generations of leaders of the two Parties and States, and have been increasingly consolidated and developed well.

Thanks to that special solidarity, the two peoples of Vietnam and Laos have been given more strength and indomitable will, always standing side by side, sharing joys and sorrows, together overcoming difficulties and challenges. Countless heroes, martyrs and outstanding children of the two peoples of Vietnam and Laos have devoted their youth, blood and bones to the common revolutionary cause and achieved complete victory, completing the cause of national liberation, together carrying out the cause of renovation and international integration.

Lao Deputy Minister of Finance (dark shirt) and provincial leaders planted a souvenir tree at Kim Lien relic site in August 2013. Photo: Van Hai

We are extremely proud of the traditional friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and Laos. It is an invaluable asset of the two peoples, a factor ensuring all victories in the revolutionary cause of building and defending the Fatherland in each country in the past as well as in the new era.

We are pleased to see that in recent years, the friendly and cooperative relationship between Vietnam and Laos in general, and between Nghe An and the border provinces in particular, has made new progress. The effective implementation of the annual cooperation program has become a routine. Up to now, Nghe An has had over 80 enterprises participating in import-export business activities and investing in the Lao market in the fields of: hydropower construction, transportation, architecture, mineral exploitation, wood processing and transportation, construction materials trading, consumer goods, long-term industrial tree planting and international tourism tours. In the first 10 months of 2013, Nghe An exported to the Lao market 29,182,000 USD, imported over 43 million USD, including the following items: cement, construction steel, tiles, roofing sheets of all kinds, sawn timber, round timber, scrap iron, scrap plastic and other products.

The Vinh - Vientiane, Vinh - Phonsavan, Vinh - Thakhek, Vinh - Luang Prabang bus routes are increasingly crowded. The number of Lao tourists visiting President Ho Chi Minh's hometown, vacationing at Cua Lo beach resort and visiting scenic spots in Nghe An is increasing. In 2013, the number of Lao and Thai tourists to Nghe An reached 53,050, Nghe An tourists visiting the Plain of Jars, Vientiane Capital, Luang Prabang Ancient Capital and other scenic spots in Laos also increased significantly. Many localities in the province have expanded services in Laos, typically Dien Thap commune, Dien Chau district. Nghe An is preparing to open an international flight route from Vinh to Vientiane.

Regarding education and training, Nghe An helps train cadres for Lao provinces. In the 2013-2014 school year, it received cadres and students from the provinces of Xieng Khouang, Bolikhamxay, Hua Phan, Vientiane, and Khammouane to study Vietnamese at Nghe An Pedagogical College. 400 Lao cadres and students are studying at Vinh University, Vinh Medical University, Vinh Technical Pedagogical University, and College of Economics and Technology. This is a quality source for the current and future leadership and economic and technical cadres of Laos. Nghe An opens Lao language classes for state officials, ethnic minority cadres, border guards, and businessmen.

In particular, the province has focused on and strengthened the work of Party foreign affairs, State foreign affairs, and people-to-people foreign affairs; the exchange of high-ranking delegations, the signing of cooperation agreements, creating the basis and favorable conditions for delegations of Party committees, departments, branches, sectors, mass mobilization sectors and localities of the two sides to regularly exchange and learn from each other's experiences, taking turns between Nghe An and neighboring Lao provinces sharing the border. In 2013, Nghe An welcomed 96 remains and held a memorial service for heroes and martyrs at the Vietnam - Laos Friendship Cemetery, Anh Son Town and Do Luong District, expressing gratitude "When drinking water, remember its source" for the heroes and martyrs who sacrificed for the noble international revolutionary cause. The visits to the old battlefields in Laos by former volunteer soldiers and experts of Nghe An are increasingly receiving attention and are truly meaningful in encouraging and educating the spirit of international solidarity for the young generations of the two countries.

Nghe An welcomed a high-ranking delegation of the Lao Government led by Prime Minister Thong Sung Tham Ma Vong to attend the inauguration ceremony of landmark 460 and celebrate the completion of the work of increasing the thickness and embellishing the Vietnam - Laos border marker system in the field; solemnly organized the ceremony to present noble awards of medals, badges, and certificates of merit from the State of the Lao People's Democratic Republic to the Party Committee, government, departments, agencies, units, and individuals with outstanding achievements contributing to the Lao revolution.

In 2013, Nghe An province and other provinces sharing the border further strengthened the friendship and comprehensive cooperation, deepened it and achieved practical results. Protected the national border marker system; closely coordinated in the fight against free migration, illegal encroachment, illegal storage, trading and transportation of goods across the border; prevented and defeated all plots of hostile forces to sabotage and divide the solidarity between Vietnam and Laos; propagated and mobilized people to strictly implement the Agreement on Border Regulations between the Socialist Republic of Vietnam and the Lao People's Democratic Republic; organized twinning between districts and districts, hamlets and communes, hamlets and hamlets, and posts and posts on both sides of the border.

The Vietnam - Laos Friendship Association publishes the quarterly newsletter "Vietnam - Laos Friendship", the book "Song of Xamakhi"; coordinates with the provincial Radio and Television Station, Nghe An Newspaper to make reports, publish many news articles; coordinates with Vinh University to organize Bunpimay festival and exchange activities "Cultivating Vietnam - Laos Friendship". Former volunteer soldiers, experts, and members contribute documents and artifacts to the exhibition room "The life and career of comrade Kaysone Phomvihane" at the Nghe Tinh Soviet Museum.

Lao officials visit the exhibition room about President Kaysone Phomvihane at the Soviet Museum, August 2013. Photo: Van Hai

In addition, Nghe An province also has many social activities and investments to support Lao provinces, especially those sharing the border. TH True Milk Group donated 300,000 cups of milk (equivalent to 2.1 billion VND) to children in the three provinces of Xieng Khouang, Hua Phan, and Bolikhamxay. The Provincial People's Committee supported Xieng Khouang province to build a provincial cultural house with a budget of 1,982,000 USD, provided 3 tons of rice seeds, 2 tons of corn seeds and 1 ton of NPK fertilizer to build an intensive agricultural model; helped Hua Phan province design the Sam Tay route to Thong Thu - Que Phong border gate. Nghe An and Lao provinces continue to cooperate in developing the Mekong River region and the East-West economic corridor.

Celebrating the 38th National Day of the Lao PDR, reviewing the glorious journey of the Vietnam - Laos solidarity and fighting alliance, cooperation in the renovation period, we are happy and proud of the great victories that the Lao ethnic people have strived to achieve over the past 38 years and consider them as our own victories. The people of Nghe An province vow to work with our close Lao comrades and brothers to do our utmost to nurture the traditional friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and Laos to a new level, forever green, forever sustainable.

Congratulations to the Lao ethnic people, under the wise and talented leadership of the Central Executive Committee of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party, headed by General Secretary and President Choummaly Saynhason, on continuing to gain even greater new achievements, successfully implementing the Resolution of the 9th Congress of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party and the Socio-Economic Development, National Defense and Security Plan to 2020, successfully building the beautiful country of Champa "Peace - Independence - Unity - Democracy and Prosperity".

More than ever, we take to heart the teachings of beloved President Ho Chi Minh:

"If we love each other, we can climb any mountain"

I can wade through any river and cross any pass.

Vietnam - Laos our two countries

Love is deeper than the waters of the Red River and the Mekong Delta.

Thai Van Hang

(Member of the Provincial Party Committee, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee, Chairman of the Vietnam - Laos Friendship Association of Nghe An province)