Meeting marks Vietnam-Laos diplomatic ties

Vietnam’s Dien Bien province and six northern Lao provinces held a meeting in Dien Bien Phu City on August 22 to mark the 50th anniversary of Vietnam-Laos diplomatic ties.

In his keynote speech, Chairman of the Dien Bien provincial People’s Committee Mua A Son noted that the two neighbouring countries have established a close-knit, faithful and long-lasting relationship. Over the past decades, the special relationship, founded by late President Ho Chi Minh and late President Kaysone Phomvihan, has stood the test of time, developed well and recorded tremendous achievements.

Dien Bien has a 360km border shared with Laos. Since 2005, it has sent 109 delegations to visit and exchange expertise with six northern provinces in Laos. Conversely, 2,047 Lao officials have visited Dien Bien in the same period.

The Vietnamese province has helped its Lao localities build social welfare projects worth over VND64 billion and implement strategies for agriculture, forestry and rural economic development. It has also trained 807 Lao students, creating significantly better conditions for healthcare development in Laos.  

In turn, the participating Lao provinces have helped to excavate and repatriate nearly 1,500 sets of remains of volunteer Vietnamese soldiers who were laid down their lives in Laos during the war.

Governor of Phongsaly province, Khamsane Souvong thanked Dien Bien for providing significant assistance to Lao localities, including economic development, security and national defence, and hoped to receive additional aid from the Vietnamese province in the future.

The meeting was attended by leaders of the six Lao provinces of Phongsaly, Oudomxay, Luangprabang, Bokeo, Luang Namtha and Sayaboury.

Former NA leaders honoured with high-class orders

The National Assembly (NA) Standing Committee held a ceremony on August 22 in Hanoi to present high-class orders to former leaders of NA committees and agencies for their positive contributions to the cause of national construction and defence.

NA Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung and NA Vice-Chair Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan presented the Independence Orders, first class, to former NA Chairman Nguyen Duc Kien and former Chairman of the NA Committee for External Affairs Nguyen Van Son.

In addition, seven leaders were awarded the Independence Orders, second class, while 10 leaders were honoured with the Independence Orders, third class, and 11 with Labour Orders of various classes.

In his speech at the ceremony, NA Chairman Hung congratulated the awardees, saying that the Party and State will always acknowledge their significant contributions to the Party revolutionary cause as well as the process of national development.

On behalf of former NA leaders, Mr Kien said he hopes the NA will operate more efficiently so that it continues to represent people’s interests as envisioned of Vietnam’s highest legislative body.

Dien Bien celebrates ties with Lao counterparts

The northern mountainous province of Dien Bien and six northern provinces in Laos have celebrated the 50th anniversary of Vietnam-Laos diplomatic ties and 35 years since the signing of the Vietnam-Laos Friendship and Cooperation Treaty.
On addressing the ceremony in Dien Bien province on August 22, Mua A Son, Chairman of Dien Bien’s People’s Committee, highlighted the traditional friendship that exists between the two neighbouring countries, as well as the level of cooperation between Dien Bien and northern provinces in Laos in recent years.

Khamchen Vongphosi, provincial Governor and Secretary of the Phongsaly provincial Party Committee, spoke on behalf of the six Lao provinces of Phongsaly, Oudomxay, Luang Prabang, Bokeo, Luang Namtha and Sayabouly.

He said that Dien Bien has supported the six Lao provinces in socio-economic development, defence and security, adding that he hopes the Vietnamese province will continue to help develop the friendship of both peoples.

Dien Bien shares a 360km border with four districts in the provinces of Phongsay and Luang Prabang.

From 2005, Dien Bien and northern Lao provinces have regularly exchanged delegations.

With its provincial budget, Dien Bien has helped the Lao provinces to build welfare facilities worth 64 billion VND and improve rural infrastructure.

It has also assisted with agricultural and forestry development plans and has provided training for Lao students and officials as well as medical services for Lao people living along the common border.

On August 21, a week of films marking the 2012 Vietnam-Laos Friendship and Solidarity Year got underway in Dien Bien Phu City.

This is just one of the many cultural activities that are taking place during the celebrations of Vietnam-Lao ties.

Vietnam helps Laos strengthen financial skills

Vietnam’s Defence Ministry will do the best it can to help its Lao counterpart improve its financial competence, during the current economic climate, said Deputy Defence Minister, Senior Lieutenant General Le Huu Duc.

General Duc stated this at a reception for a delegation from the Finance and Planning Department at Laos ’ Ministry of Defence, led by Lieutenant-Colonel Khamphan, on August 21 in Hanoi .

At the reception, Duc went on to say that the finance department at Vietnam’s Ministry of Defence attaches a great deal of importance to exchanging its financial skills and know how with their Lao counterparts.

Khamphan, who is also the department’s Deputy Head, then gave a briefing on the outcomes of previous talks between the two financial bodies.

VNN/VOV/VNA