Vietnamese, Lao localities work to build peaceful borderline

Scene at the conference review Thua Thien - Hue's cooperation programme with Laos’ Salavan province in building a borderline of peace and friendship during the 2012-2018 period 

A conference took place in the central province of Thua Thien-Hue on July 24 to review its cooperation programme with Laos’ Salavan province in building a borderline of peace and friendship during the 2012-2018 period.

The programme was carried out by the provincial chapter of the Vietnam Fatherland Front and the Lao Front for National Construction’s chapter in Salavan.

As heard at the conference, in order to develop border relations with Salavan over the past six years, Thua Thien-Hue sent several delegations to the Lao province for exchanges and meetings, and organised communication programmes to raise awareness of the local A Luoi mountain district and Salavan residents on building a borderline of peace and friendship. 

The two provinces were said to maintain decent relations between their twin villages and border forces. Thanks to support from Salavan authorities, in 2017, the search team under the Thua Thien-Hue Military High Command was able to find the remains of 13 Vietnamese martyrs in Laos.

The sides have worked closely in the fields of healthcare, culture, sports, tourism, defence and security, as well as in searching for Vietnamese martyrs’ remains in Laos.

Thua Thien-Hue has offered 10 scholarships each year for students from Salavan.

Speaking at the function, Standing Vice Secretary of the Thua Thien-Hue Party Committee Bui Thanh Ha suggested both localities build plans for communications campaigns on border friendship, as well as Vietnam-Laos comprehensive cooperation. The campaigns should access people from all walks of life, particularly those living along the border zones, the official said.

Ha recommended the sides continue completing their grassroots-level political systems in border areas, exchanging information and experience, and carrying out front cooperation.  

Thua Thien-Hue shares an 80km borderline with several Lao localities. Currently, 469 Lao students are studying in the province.

Officials visit war heroes in build up to War Invalids and Martyrs

Vice President Dang Thi Ngoc Thinh on July 24 visited various war invalids and ill soldiers at the care centre for war invalids in Lang Giang district, in the northern province of Bac Giang, as part of the activities on the occasion of the upcoming War Invalids and Martyrs Day (July 27). 

She presented 50 gifts, each worth 2 million VND (86 USD), to the war invalids and sick soldiers, and a gift valued at 50 million VND (2,150 USD) to the centre itself. 

The official affirmed that the Vietnamese Party, State, and people have always kept in mind the sacrifices that the war invalids and ill soldiers made for the nation, expressing her hope that their examples would help younger generations overcome their difficulties.

The Party and State will continue to search for fallen soldiers, especially those who died in battlefields along the Vietnam-Laos border line and in Cambodia, she said.

The centre is now taking care of 50 war invalids and ill soldiers, who come from 21 cities spread from as far as the central province of Thua Thien-Hue up to the northern region. 

The same day, Vice President Thinh offered incense at the Martyrs Memorial Site of Bac Giang province, and visited Heroic Vietnamese Mother Trinh Thi Lich and a war invalid in Bac Giang city. 

Also on July 24, Secretary of the Hanoi Party Committee Hoang Trung Hai visited and presented gifts to two policy beneficiary families in Hoan Kiem district. 

In activities related to the upcoming War Invalids and Martyrs Day, Hanoi has spent more than 103 billion VND (4.4 million USD) on gifts to Heroic Vietnamese Mothers, war invalids and policy beneficiaries, and more than 600 million VND (25,800 USD) on gifts for units that are taking care of war invalids in the city. 
Laos sends condolences to Vietnam over losses caused by storm

President Bounnhang Vorachit and Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith of Laos have sent messages of sympathy to Vietnamese President Tran Dai Quang and Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc over the huge losses in humans and property caused by typhoon Son Tinh in northern and central provinces.

On behalf of the Party, Government and people of Laos, the Lao leaders extended their sympathy and condolences to their Vietnamese counterparts as well as the Party, Government and people of Vietnam, especially the local administrations and families affected by the natural disaster.

The Lao leaders expressed their belief that under the close leadership and care of the Party and Government of Vietnam, from the central to local levels, the fraternal Vietnamese people will overcome difficulties and local residents in the affected areas will stabilise their lives soon.

Typhoon Son Tinh, the third of its kind hit Vietnam this year, brought downpours that triggered flash floods and landslides in the northern mountainous and north central provinces.

Statistics provided by the affected provinces showed that by July 24, torrential rains, floods, and landslides left 29 people dead, five others missing, and 26 injured. 

Of the dead, 15 were in the northern mountainous province of Yen Bai, six in the northern mountainous province of Son La, three in the northern midland province of Phu Tho, three in the central province of Thanh Hoa, and the others in the northern mountainous provinces of Lao Cai and Hoa Binh.

Meanwhile, two of the missing people were from Yen Bai, two from Thanh Hoa, another from Phu Tho.

The natural disasters also destroyed and flooded 12,383 houses, killed and swept away 121,389 heads of livestock, and affected 6,208 ha of aquaculture. 

According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD)’s Department of Crop Production and the localities, many areas of rice and other food crops were still inundated, including 42,606 ha of rice in the Red River Delta region.

Vietnam expresses sympathy with Laos over losses in dam collapse

Top leaders of Vietnam have expressed sympathy with their Lao counterparts over the great losses in humans and property caused by the collapse of Xepian-Xe Nam Noy hydropower dam in the Lao province of Attapeu on July 23.

General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee Nguyen Phu Trong and President Tran Dai Quang on July 24 sent messages of sympathy to General Secretary of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party Central Committee and President of Laos Bounnhang Vorachit. 

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc cabled a message of sympathy to his Lao counterpart Thongloun Sisoulith, while Deputy Prime Minister cum Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh also sent a similar message to Lao Foreign Minister Saleumxay Kommasith.

The same day, PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc had a phone call to PM Thongloun Sisoulith, affirming that the Party, State and people of Vietnam are willing to assist the Lao people to overcome the aftermath of the incident.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs asked Vietnamese representatives agencies in Laos to follow the situation and coordinate closely with local relevant agencies to update information about Vietnamese citizens and overseas Vietnamese in the affected area and stand ready to take measures to help those in need.

In case of emergency, it is recommended to contact the hotline for citizen protection in Laos 008562096106775 or in Vietnam 0084981848484.

The Xepian-Xe Nam Noy hydropower dam collapsed at 20:00 on July 23, releasing 5 billion cu.m of water which caused flash flooding in 10 villages in lower areas and completely isolated Sanamxay district. Five out of Sanamxay district’s villages, namely May, Hinlath, Nhaythe Sanong Tay, Thasengchan and Thahin, have been absolutely submerged.

The disaster, which was supposed to be triggered by downpours in recent days, has left more than 100 people missing and over 1,300 families with 6,600 people homeless. Rescuers have recovered the bodies of 28 people and are continuing to look for the missing.

Rescue and relief efforts are facing a range of challenges due to difficult traffic conditions. The central committee for rescue and relief is working with Sekong and Attapeu provinces and Division 5 of the Lao army to deploy the rescue and relief campaign for victims.

Attapeu province’s authorities had previously urged the Party, government organizations, business community, officials, police and military forces and people of all strata to provide emergency aid for the victims of the disaster, such as clothing, food items, drinking water, medicines, cash and other relief items.

The 410 MW Xe Pian-Xe Nam Noy hydroelectric power project is located in the southern region of Laos and is estimated to have an annual energy generation of approximately 1,860 GWh, according to www.power-technology.com.

PNPC is a joint-venture formed in March 2012 by SK Engineering and Construction (SK E&C), Korea Western Power (KOWEPO), Ratchaburi Electricity Generating Holding (RATCH), and Lao Holding State Enterprise (LHSE). SK E&C holds a 24 percent stake in PNPC, LHSE 26 percent, and RATCH and KOWEPO equally own the remaining share in the project.

The project, which is estimated to cost 1.02 billion USD, is the first build-operate-transfer (BOT) project to be undertaken by Korean companies in Laos.

The feasibility study for the hydroelectric project was completed in November 2008. Construction of the project began in February 2013 and commercial operations are expected to begin in 2018.

Vietnam to focus on developing modern IT system: Deputy PM

Vietnam is concentrating on building an advanced IT infrastructure to serve the development of its digital government and economy, stated Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam on July 24.

Dam made his statement at a reception for visiting General Secretary of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Zhao Houlin in Hanoi. The ITU is the United Nations’ specialised agency for information and communication technologies.

At the meeting, the Deputy PM praised the ITU’s role in the global telecommunication growth, saying its support has become increasingly important to member countries, particularly in terms of forming policy and strategies, building legal frameworks, and boosting residents’ digital capacity.

Vietnam supports Zhao Houlin to run for his re-election as General Secretary of the ITU, he added.  

Vietnam has set the targets of completing the construction of related institutions and infrastructure; developing science and technology; and training human resources to keep up with and capitalise on the Fourth Industrial Revolution, Dam said.

He thanked the ITU for its collaboration with Vietnam in technical support programmes, institutional building consultation, and legal framework completion.

The official asked the ITU to continue its assistance for the development of  IT and communications in Vietnam amid the country’s efforts to foster a digital economy, build smart cities, and realise its Industry 4.0 goals.

Dam said he expects the ITU to help facilitate Vietnam’s role in its executive board, and Zhao Houlin himself to back certain Vietnamese personnel's bid for their re-election to the ITU’s Radio Regulations Board for the 2019-2022 tenure.

For his part, Zhao expressed his delight over the fast development of IT, communication, and telecommunication in Vietnam, as well as his impression of the country’s young and competent engineers. 

The ITU General Secretary said he wants to increase the participation of Vietnamese enterprises in ITU activities, such as the annual ITU Telecom World.

ITU Telecom World is a global platform for governments, corporations, and small- and medium-sized enterprises in the field of technology to accelerate IT innovation for economic growth and societal betterment. This year, it will take place in Durban, South Africa, from September 10 to 13.

Vietnamese, Lao parties hold theoretical workshop

Vo Van Thuong, Politburo member, Secretary of the CPV Central Committee, and head of the CPV Central Committee’s Commission for Information and Education 

The sixth theoretical workshop between the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) and the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party (LPRP) opened in Vientiane on July 24.

The event will help realise the agreement both parties made to increase cooperation programmes on theoretical research and practical revision. 

Speaking at the opening, Vo Van Thuong - Politburo member, Secretary of the CPV Central Committee, and head of the CPV Central Committee’s Commission for Information and Education – said the workshop is significant in terms of both theory and practice. 

The CPV always defines ideological and theoretical work as one of its most important activities to implement political tasks during each period of reform, he said.

Party building activities are a crucial factor to creating unity and solidarity; enhancing leadership; preventing corruption, wastefulness, ideological and moral degradation, and manifestations of self-evolution and self-transformation; as well as contributing to the development of a strong, transparent Party, he stressed.

He suggested the two sides promote experience sharing and exchanges in the field for successful renewal implementation in each country.

Kikeo Khaykhamphithoune – Secretary of the LPRP Central Committee, head of the LPRP Central Committee’s Commission for Propaganda and Training, and President of the Lao National Council for Social Sciences – highlighted the theoretical and practical significance of the workshop in the context of the two countries’ renovation and integration process.

He underlined the LPRP’s perceptions on promoting ideological and theoretical work, which is considered an urgent and strategic task of the two Parties.

The official also shared the Lao experience in theoretical and practical research, and proposed the two Parties and States strengthen cooperation and information exchanges in the field.

Quang Tri, Lao border province review cooperation

Participants at the Quang Tri - Salavan high-level discussion pose for a group photo 

A high-level discussion took place in Quang Tri on July 24 to review the implementation of a cooperation agreement signed between the hosting central province and the Lao border province of Salavan. 

As heard at the function, following the pact inked on July 4, 2016, the two localities have carried out communication campaigns to raise public awareness on border regulations and the territorial jurisdictions of both Laos and Vietnam. 

They have joined hands to tackle undocumented migration and marriage, and implemented a twin-village model, encouraging residents from both sides of the Vietnam-Laos border to support each other in socio-economic development and bilateral trade.

Quang Tri has offered politics and administration training for 25 Salavan public personnel on an annual basis. The Quang Tri College of Education has trained five students from the Lao province on Vietnamese language. It is now also training another five on information and technology.

At the discussion, Chairman of the Quang Tri People’s Committee Nguyen Duc Chinh urged the two sides to boost cooperation in all fields.

He said Quang Tri will speed up the building of infrastructure at the local La Lay international border gate and a transport system connecting the province with the Ho Chi Minh Road to facilitate travel and goods flow.

Quang Tri will continue assisting Salavan in training its pupils, students, and personnel, as well as creating the best conditions possible for local enterprises to invest in the Lao locality.

Governor of Salavan Sisouvan Vongchomsy praised Quang Tri’s educational system, saying many of the Lao students and personnel trained there are now holding high positions in Salavan.

The Lao official also noted that Quang Tri’s commune-level health facilities along the border have supported Salavan in taking care of its residents’ well-being.

Draft national border protection strategy tabled for discussion

The Defence Ministry held a conference in Hanoi on July 24 to collect opinions of defence officials, military officers and experts on a draft of the national border protection strategy.

In opening the conference, Politburo member and Defence Minister General Ngo Xuan Lich stressed that the national border protection strategy aims to put in concrete terms the resolution on national defence-security missions adopted at the 8th plenum of the 11th Party Central Committee.

He said the strategy aims to combine the experience of generations of Vietnamese in defending the country’s border and that of other nations in the world.

The national border protection strategy defines the goals, viewpoints, principles, guidelines on the work, along with the methods and policies to successfully implement the strategy.

Participants contributed their opinions to clarify the principles and guidelines for national border protection. They stressed several major measures to implement the strategy, one of which is to strengthen the Party’s leadership and improve the efficiency of State management over the building, control and protection of the national border.

National consensus and concerted actions of the entire political system are also necessary to ensure the effective protection of the national border, as are a strong political base at grassroots level and social-economic development in border areas.

Participants also expressed approval of other measures specified in the draft strategy, including the building of people-based border defence with the people’s armed forces as the core and the border guard as the specialised force.

They underlined the need to enhance international cooperation in the work, especially defence and border diplomacy.

Research should be conducted to perfect the mode and plans to manage border protection work, along with mechanisms, policies and laws on the building, management and protection of the national border.

General Ngo Xuan Lich said the strategy drafting board will study the opinions raised at the conference and incorporate useful contents into the draft national border protection strategy to submit to the Politburo for consideration.