The faithful, transparent and unique relationship between the two Parties, States and peoples of Vietnam and Laos has been proven throughout the history of the fight for national liberation, protection and construction. The past journey has marked bright milestones in the special solidarity between Vietnam and Laos.
These days, Vietnam and Laos are solemnly celebrating the 60th anniversary of the establishment of bilateral diplomatic ties (September 5, 1962 - 2022) and the 45th anniversary of the signing of the Vietnam-Laos Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation (July 18, 1977 - 2022). These are important events held within the framework of the Vietnam-Laos Solidarity and Friendship Year 2022 continuing to affirm the wishes of generations of leaders and the people of the two countries for promoting great friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation.
TREASURING
THE GREAT FRIENDSHIP
Vietnam and Laos are two close neighbours that are sharing mountains and rivers, drinking together the water of the Mekong River, leaning against the Truong Son Mountain range. The people of Vietnam and Laos have a time-honoured and loyal relationship. Since the birth and leadership of the Communist Party of Indochina, later the Communist Party of Vietnam and the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party, this relationship has expanded and developed. Thanks to the cultivation of President Ho Chi Minh and President Kaysone Phomvihane, President Souphanouvong, as well as generations of leaders and people of the two countries, the special relationship between Vietnam and Laos has become a great asset to the two peoples.
On September 5, 1962, Vietnam and Laos officially established their diplomatic relations. This is an important historical event, marking a new page in the relationship between the two countries, affirming the bond of the destiny of the two peoples in the fight for national liberation and reunification. To bring bilateral relations into comprehensive and in-depth development, on July 18, 1977, Vietnam and Laos signed the Vietnam-Laos Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation. The treaty has become an important political and legal basis, helping Vietnam and Laos to constantly strengthen and develop their bilateral relations, while at the same time building and defending each country's Fatherland.
The achievements after more than 30 years of implementing the renewal in each country have contributed to strengthening the time-honoured friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and Laos. Entering a new phase, in the context of the world situation, the region has many complicated developments, but the special relationship between Vietnam and Laos has been constantly developing. The people of the two countries have always given each other sincere support and assistance in all circumstances. The Party and State leaders of the two countries have always affirmed their determination to constantly strengthen and develop a great friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and Laos.
To commemorate important events between the two countries in 2022, during the official visit to Vietnam, from January 8 to 10, Lao Prime Minister Phankham Viphavanh and Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh launched the 2022 Vietnam - Laos, Laos - Vietnam Solidarity and Friendship Year.
Within the framework of the Solidarity and Friendship Year, to communicate with the people, especially the younger generations of the two countries, to have a deeper understanding of Vietnam-Laos relations in the process of the national liberation struggle and socialist construction in each country, the Party Central Committee’s Commission for Information and Education organised an online quiz on the history of Vietnam-Laos special relations. This contest has attracted tens of thousands of participants and has a widespread, contribution to helping not only the people in the country but also the people of Laos and international friends, understand the historical significance, the importance of the special friendship and solidarity between the two Parties, States and people of Vietnam and Laos.
The friendship between the two countries has been built and fostered from the cultural source, nurtured from the past to the present. To find and collect simple, small and old memories and artefacts, but containing and preserve the priceless values of the sentiments and history of people-to-people relations between Vietnam and Laos, the Embassy of Laos in Vietnam, the Thoi Dai (Vietnam Times) Magazine, the Vietnam-Laos Friendship Association and the Laos-Vietnam Friendship Association launched a story-telling competition on Vietnam-Laos friendship.
That is just one of many exciting activities held in both countries to affirm the determination in preserving and cultivating the great friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and Laos.
BRINGING COMPREHENSIVE
COOPERATION TO NEW HEIGHTS
Over the past 60 years of history, especially during the 45 years of implementing the Vietnam-Laos Treaty of Amity and Cooperation, the great friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and Laos have grown more and more widely in all fields. The two sides constantly strengthen the great friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and Laos, at the same time improving the position and prestige of the two parties and two states in the international arena, making positive contributions to peace, stability, cooperation and development throughout the region and the world.
Political ties between the two countries continue to be strengthened and deepened, playing a pivotal role and overall orientation of cooperation in all fields. To affirm that the two countries' consistent foreign policy is to attach special importance to and give the highest priority to preserving, constantly consolidating and developing the Vietnam-Laos relationship, the two sides regularly exchange all-level delegations, especially high-level ones, in many flexible forms, promoting existing cooperation mechanisms, and at the same time deploying new cooperation mechanisms.
Cooperation in defence and security is the mainstay of the relationship between the two countries. The two sides have worked closely and enhanced mutual support to ensure political stability, security, social order and safety in each country. The two countries have completed the project of thickening and embellishing the Vietnam-Laos national landmark system as well as signed two important legal documents including the Protocol on Vietnam - Laos borderline and national border markers and the Agreement on land border and border gate management regulations.
Regarding investment, Vietnam now has 214 valid investment projects in Laos with a total registered investment capital of about 5.38 billion USD and continues to maintain the third position among countries with investment in Laos. Several projects have achieved good results, contributing to socio-economic development and creating stable jobs for thousands of workers in Laos. In August 2021, the two sides completed the construction of the new National Assembly House of Laos. This is a gift from the Party, State and people of Vietnam to the Party, State and people of Laos and a vivid symbol of the great friendship and special solidarity between the two nations.
In terms of trade, both two sides have continued to promote negotiations and signed many important documents, contributing to perfecting the legal framework on trade as well as proactively and actively carrying out the signed documents and strengthened trade promotion measures. During the 2016-2020 period, the trade turnover between Vietnam and Laos has made significant progress, with an average growth rate of 4% per year. Vietnam-Laos trade turnover reached over 1.37 billion USD in 2021, up about 33.3% over the previous year. Their bilateral trade turnover was 690.9 million USD in the first five months of this year, a year-on-year increase of 19%.
Cooperation in the fields of transportation, agro-forestry and rural development, education training and human resource development has been promoted by both sides. People-to-people diplomacy has also been of great interest to the two countries. The Fatherland Fronts, mass organisations and socio-political organisations from the two nations have regularly held visits, meetings and cultural exchange activities, contributing to enhancing the mutual understanding between the two peoples, fostering the development of Vietnam – Laos relations in a deeper manner.
During the outbreaks of the COVID-19 pandemic, the two sides had practical support and shared resources. The Vietnamese Party and State donated 2.65 million USD, medical equipment worth over 2 million USD and 1 million doses of the vaccine against COVID-19 as well as sent delegations of medical experts and military doctors to help Laos fight against the pandemic. In response, the Lao Party, State and enterprises supported Vietnam with 1.7 million USD.
Regarding multilateral cooperation, Vietnam and Laos have enhanced information exchange on the world and regional situations of mutual concern whileeffectively coordinating activities at regional and international forums, such as the United Nations, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the Asia-Europe Cooperation Forum (ASEM), and the Mekong sub-regional cooperation mechanism, contributing to enhancing the prestige and position of each country. The special relationship between Vietnam and Laos is one of the factors contributing to building a strong, united and resilient ASEAN Community, contributing to creating an environment of peace and cooperation throughout the region and the world.
Lao Ambassador to France Kham-InhKhitchadeth:
The great traditional relationship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between the two peoples of Laos and Vietnam, founded by President Ho Chi Minh, President KaysonePhomvihane and President Souphanouvong, have been tested and cultivated over many generations, becoming an invaluable asset of the two nations on the path of developing a prosperous country and happy people.
Deputy Director of the Department of Cultural Arts and Culture under the Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism of LaosVanxiSoukchaleun:
The selected programmes show the cooperation between the two Parties, two States and the peoples of the two countries, showing solidarity and harmony among Lao ethnic groups from north to south while describing the daily living and business activities of our Lao people and at the same time expressing the wish that the cooperation between the two peoples of Laos and Vietnam will always be sustainable and lasting.
President of the Lao National Association of Artists BouangeunXaphouvong:
This is the feeling from the bottom of the hearts of Lao music composers, and it is also an expression of the infinite gratitude of Lao musicians to the Party, State and people of Vietnam who have always been accompanying and supporting Laos in the cause of national construction and defence both in the past and in the present.
Lao national artist DouangmixayLikaya:
I have many sworn brothers and sisters in Vietnam and I always consider Vietnam as my second homeland. Even though I was born in Laos, the place where I grew up and studied was Vietnam. The Vietnamese people raised and protected me.
(Source: VNA)
The Vietnam-Laos relationship has become a special and rare relationship in international relations and an invaluable asset of the two peoples. For that special relationship to remain “deeper than Hong Ha and Cuu Long Rivers” and “more stable than mountains, more long-lasting than rivers” as President Ho Chi Minh and President KaysonePhomvihane wished, generations of leaders and peoples of the two countries have constantly consolidated the great friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and Laos, contributing to the development of each country, as well as for peace, cooperation and development throughout the region and around the world.
Production managers: NGOC THANH - CHU HONG THANG
Content: SON NINH - MINH ANH
Design: THU BICH - QUANG VINH
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