Vietnam and Laos should continue working to deepen their political ties, coordinate closely in defence, security, and external affairs, improve economic, cultural, education, scientific and technological links, and step up ministry, sector and locality affiliations, Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong has said.

Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong (R) and Vice President of Laos Phankham Viphavanh (L) 

He made the remarks at his reception for Politburo member, standing member of the Secretariat of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party, and Vice President of Laos Phankham Viphavanh and his entourage in Hanoi on July 18.

The Lao guests are in Hanoi for the 55th anniversary of Vietnam-Laos diplomatic ties and the ceremony marking 40 years since the signing of the Vietnam-Laos Treaty of Amity and Cooperation.

The Party chief stated that Vietnam strongly supports the reform in Laos and expressed his belief that Lao people will gain new and bigger achievements in the effort.

He said he is glad that the special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between the two countries have been growing efficiently across the board, contributing hugely to each country’s nation-building and defence cause as well as to peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region and the world at large.  

The two sides should be proactively implementing productively reached agreements, coordinate in soundly organizing activities of the Vietnam-Laos Friendship and Solidarity Year 2017, and disseminate widely the bilateral special friendship among their young people, and friends worldwide, he noted.

Phankham Viphavanh was delighted that the growing Laos-Vietnam ties have brought tangible benefits for the two countries’ people, and thanked Vietnam for its immense and productive help to Lao people.

He asserted that Laos will work together with Vietnam to foster, preserve, and promote the special Laos-Vietnam relations to pass it on younger generations, and implement reached agreements efficiently.

Ceremony celebrates Vietnam-Laos diplomatic relations

Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong addresses the ceremony 

A ceremony was held in Hanoi on July 18 to mark the 55th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and Laos and 40 years of the signing of the Vietnam-Laos Treaty of Amity and Cooperation.

Present at the event was Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, President Tran Dai Quang, National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan, Deputy Prime Minister Truong Hoa Binh, Secretary of the Hanoi Party Committee Hoang Trung Hai, and President of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Central Committee Tran Thanh Man, and a number of former leaders.

The Lao delegation at the ceremony was led by Vice President Phankham Viphavanh.

Addressing the event, Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong recalled the relations between Vietnam and Laos over the past 55 years as well as the context of setting up their diplomatic ties on September 5, 1962.

This is a significant historical event in bilateral relations, affirming the vital attachment of the two nations in their struggle for national independence and unity, he said.

In order to deepen the bilateral partnership, Vietnam and Laos signed the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation on July 18, 1977, which emphasised that nothing can change the special relations between Vietnam and Laos as well as the solidarity and friendship between people of the two nations.

Over the past 40 years, the treaty has become an important political and legal foundation for the unceasing reinforcement and development of the bilateral relations, serving national construction and defence in each country.

Showing his delight at the growth of the special ties between the two nations, the Party chief underscored that the relationship has been developed sustainably from traditional to special friendship.

The relationship also shows the wish of the two peoples in supporting each other to fight the common enemy and build a partnership of equality, self-reliance and friendship and win-win cooperation, he said.

Analysing the regional and international situation, Trong affirmed that historical lessons of the relations between the two countries as well as the spirit and contents of the Treaty maintain their value and role as a direction for the development of the ties between the two Parties, States and people.

He also highlighted the need to continue completing mechanisms, policies to effectively realise agreements and strategic targets set by both sides, thus further expanding the special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between the two countries.

“By all means, we must maintain and protect the Vietnam-Laos relations like protecting the pupil of our eyes,” stated the Party chief.

On his part, Lao Vice President Phankham Viphavanh showed deep gratitude to the Party, State and people of Vietnam, affirming the Party, State and people of Laos 

are determined to preserve the friendship and special solidarity between the two nations, which have been nurtured with blood of soldiers and people of generations in both countries.

At the event, Huynh Dac Huong, a 97 years old veteran who represents the Vietnamese volunteer soldiers and experts in Laos, expressed his belief that the young generations in both countries will continue promoting the tradition of bilateral ties.

VNA