Vietnamese Minister of Public Security Senior Lieutenant General Luong Tam Quang speaks at the ground-breaking ceremony. — VNA/VNS Photo

VIENTIANE — Construction of a drug treatment and rehabilitation centre started in Vientiane province of Laos on July 12 with the support from the Vietnamese Ministry of Public Security.

Once put into operation, the centre can provide treatment and rehabilitation services for 500 patients and working conditions for 70 employees.

Speaking at the ground-breaking ceremony, Vietnamese Minister of Public Security Senior Lieutenant General Lương Tam Quang said that after the Academy of Politics of the Lao People's Public Security, the centre is a result of the special solidarity and close cooperation between the two Parties, States and people of the two countries in general, and between the two public security forces in particular.

The work also aims to celebrate the 62nd founding anniversary of diplomatic relations between Việt Nam and Laos (September 5, 1962 - 2024), and the 47th anniversary of the signing of the Việt Nam – Laos Treaty of Amity and Cooperation (July 18, 1977 - 2024).

On behalf of the Party, Government, and the Ministry of Public Security of Laos, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Public Security Gen. Vilay Lakhamphong expressed his sincere thanks to the Vietnamese Ministry of Public Security for supporting Laos in building the centre.

Vilay believed that the centre will make an important contribution to the implementation of the Lao national programme on solving drug problems and helping the Lao public security force complete its tasks well, especially in the drug treatment and rehabilitation. — VNS