HÀ NỘI — Việt Nam and Laos started their three-day celebration of diplomatic ties with an opening ceremony highlighting the special solidarity and friendship between the two countries in the northern province of Sơn La, which borders two northern Lao provinces, yesterday.

Addressing the second culture, sports and tourism festival in the Việt Nam-Laos border area, Việt Nam’s Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Nguyễn Ngọc Thiện, stressed that the event celebrates not only the 55th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Việt Nam and Laos, but also the 40^th anniversary of the signing of the bilateral treaty on amity and co-operation as well as to welcome the Year of the Việt Nam-Laos Solidarity and Friendship 2017.

“The event affirms the long-standing traditional friendship and comprehensive co-operation between Việt Nam and Laos in a more developed, practical and effective way that meets the aspirations of the two people, for peace, stability, co-operation and development in the region and the world,” Thiện said.

Chairwoman of the Việt Nam’s National Assembly, Nguyễn Thị Kim Ngân, and Chairwoman of the Lao National Assembly, Pany Yathotou, together with officials from both countries and representatives of nine provinces in Việt Nam and 10 provinces in Laos that share the border attended the ceremony.

Also yesterday, leaders from 15 provinces of Laos received Orders bestowed by the Vietnamese President for their prominent achievements in reinforcing and enhancing the traditional relationship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between the two countries. 

The awards ceremony was also held in Sơn La. 

On behalf of Vietnamese Party and State leaders, National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyễn Thị Kim Ngân presented 11 second-class Independence Orders, 74 third-class Independence Orders, and three first-class Labour Orders to the Lao awardees. 

Speaking at the event, Secretary of the provincial Party Committee and Chairman of the People’s Council of Sơn La Province Hoàng Văn Chất affirmed Party organisations, administrations and people of Vietnamese provinces bordering Laos always attached importance to and give special priority to consolidating, nurturing and promoting friendly and traditional relations with Lao counterparts. 

He took this occasion to call for a joint determination to lift the traditional friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between the two Parties, States and people to a new level, thus actively contributing to the cause of national construction and defence in each country, as well as peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region and the world. 

Phetthavong Philavan, Secretary of the Party Committee and Governor of Luang Namtha Province, thanked the Vietnamese Party, State and people for the wholehearted support given to their Lao counterparts as well as the 15 provinces in the past struggle for national liberation and the current national construction and development period. 

He believed the bilateral relations will be strengthened and developed fruitfully in all fields, and the Việt Nam-Laos Solidarity and Friendship Year 2017 would be organised successfully. 

A photo exhibition on co-operation between Việt Nam and Laos began in Sơn La City yesterday as part of the second culture, sports and tourism festival in the Việt Nam-Laos border area. 

With 150 photos, the exhibition aims to raise awareness of officials, Party members, soldiers and people of ethnic minorities of the traditional friendship between the two nations. 

It also affirms guidelines and policies on enhancing Việt Nam-Laos ties. 

Another exhibition displaying cultural and tourism products of the 10 Vietnamese provinces bordering Laos and five others in the expanded northwestern region opened in Sơn La City the same day. 

The three-day event aims to boost trade promotion, co-operation and connectivity between the localities. 

The 10 provinces bordering Laos include Điện Biên and Sơn La in the north, Thanh Hóa, Nghệ An, Hà Tĩnh, Quảng Bình, Quảng Trị, Thừa Thiên-Huế and Quảng Nam in the central region and the Central Highlands province of Kon Tum.

Meeting Lao students in Son La

Also yesterday, Chairwoman of the Lao National Assembly Pany Yathotou met with Lao students who are studying in Sơn La. 

During the meeting, Vice Secretary of the provincial Party Committee Nguyễn Đắc Quỳnh detailed Việt Nam-Laos co-operation in providing training courses for students from northern Laos in Sơn La. 

Sơn La has implemented plans in human resources training co-operation between the two sides that meet the needs of northern Lao provinces, he said, adding that the locality has issued four resolutions on educational support for Lao students since 2008. 

More than 1,700 Lao students have enrolled in college and university courses in Sơn La since 2008, inlcuding150 governmental officials who received training in political theory and state management. The province also sent 49 officials and students to study in Laos in the period. 

Speaking at the event, Yathotou appreciated the province’s support to Lao students in spite of its difficulties, describing it as “limitless and borderless”.

She noted that about 12,000 Lao students are studying across Việt Nam while many of the alumni have become key officials of the Lao Party and Government. — VNS