Fostering the special friendship and solidarity between Vietnam and Laos

In recent years, Hai Duong and Vientiane (Laos) provinces have had many practical and effective cooperation activities. In the photo: The delegation of Vientiane (Laos) province leaders and leaders of the Vietnam - Laos Friendship Association of the province visited the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum during the visit and working session with Hai Duong province in September 2024.

Helping you is helping myself

75 years ago, on October 30, 1949, the Central Committee of the Indochinese Communist Party held a meeting, during which the Laos-Cambodia issue was discussed. The conference set out urgent tasks and policies to assist the Lao-Cambodia revolution in the coming years; at the same time, it clearly defined the organization, direction and name of Vietnamese troops operating in Laos-Cambodia.

The above event has very important significance, marking the beginning and development and maturity of the Vietnamese military forces in helping the revolution of neighboring countries.

October 30, 1949 was taken as the Traditional Day of Vietnamese Volunteers and Military Experts Helping Laos. With the leadership, direction and close organization from the Party Central Committee to the Ministry of National Defense of Vietnam and the close coordination between the armed forces of Vietnam and Laos, Vietnamese volunteer soldiers and experts in Laos have successfully completed their tasks, making great contributions to the revolutions of the two countries and to the special friendship between Vietnam and Laos, in accordance with the spirit of proletarian internationalism and the teachings of President Ho Chi Minh: "Helping the people of other countries means helping ourselves".

During 39 years of carrying out the noble international mission on friendly land, Vietnamese volunteer soldiers and military experts helping Laos have achieved many glorious feats, making worthy contributions to the glorious revolutionary cause of the two Parties, two States, two armies and peoples of the two countries.

Leaders of the Vietnam - Laos Friendship Association of the province presented gifts to Lao students studying in Hai Duong (documentary photo)

After the victory of the resistance war against the US, Vietnam and Laos became two independent, unified countries, following the path of socialism. The relationship between the two countries entered a new stage of development - the stage of comprehensive cooperation...

Vietnam continues to send many leading experts in agriculture and irrigation to help Laos. During the years 1996-2000, at Laos' request, Vietnam sent 475 experts to help its friend, focusing on the fields of economics (63%), national defense - security (28%) and other fields...

Appreciating and recognizing the results in helping Laos, our Party and State have awarded the Vietnamese volunteer army and military experts helping Laos many noble awards such as: In 2000, the Gold Star Order; in 2009, the National Gold Star Order; and in 2019, the noble title of Hero of the People's Armed Forces.

Together with the whole country continuing to care for and nurture the special friendship between Vietnam and Laos, on April 2, 1984, the leaders of the two provinces of Hai Hung (now Hai Duong) and Vientiane signed a twinning agreement to open up friendly cooperation and support each other to develop comprehensively in all aspects.

Over the past 40 years, Hai Duong and Vientiane have carried out cooperative activities with many results in many aspects, including two cooperation centers Vientiane - Hai Duong and Hai Duong - Vientiane to serve as a basis for implementing friendly cooperation activities between the two provinces.

The Liaison Committee of Vietnamese Volunteer Soldiers and Military Experts Helping Laos in Hai Duong Province currently has more than 1,000 members operating in 8 branches. In the photo: Members of the Liaison Committee met on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the Traditional Day of Vietnamese Volunteer Soldiers and Military Experts Helping Laos

The two provinces regularly exchange high-level delegations and experts to share experiences in Party building and socio-economic development. In particular, during the 40 years of the two provinces' twinning relationship, Hai Duong has annually sent many delegations of officials and experts to Vientiane to provide guidance on techniques, production experience, economic development and support its friend in many fields. The province also regularly provides support to the other province with livestock, poultry, and crop varieties, etc. Thereby helping farmers in Vientiane and neighboring areas boost production and improve their economic life.

In 2012, Hai Duong province supported Vientiane to build a guest house with an amount of over 10 billion VND. Currently, the project of supporting the construction of a kindergarten in the center of Vientiane province with a total investment of over 13 billion VND, of which Hai Duong supports 6 billion VND. Every year, Hai Duong also supports tuition fees and learning conditions for dozens of students and officials of Vientiane province to study at universities, colleges and intermediate schools in the province; helps Vientiane train and develop high-performance athletes in a number of sports...

Deep affection

Lao students studying in Hai Duong are sponsored by families of veteran volunteers and military experts helping Laos in Hai Duong City.

Accompanying the province, the Vietnam - Laos Friendship Association of the province has many initiatives, including the initiative to mobilize families of veteran volunteers and military experts to help Laos in Hai Duong City to sponsor Lao students to study in Hai Duong.

The Liaison Committee of Volunteer Soldiers and Military Experts in Laos in Hai Duong province is an important part and the main force of the Vietnam - Laos Friendship Association of the province. Over the years, the Liaison Committee has always adhered to the principles and purposes of the Association's activities, which are to contribute to enhancing understanding between the people of the two countries, consolidating and developing the special friendship, solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between the two countries.

Locally, Vietnamese volunteer veterans and military experts have helped Laos continue to promote the tradition of Uncle Ho's soldiers, always upholding their exemplary role in local movements. Veterans have carried out many meaningful activities such as organizing groups to search for the remains of their comrades in Xavanakhet province, actively mobilizing members to participate in supporting the people of Laos through practical and specific activities.

The world and regional context is undergoing complex and unpredictable developments, requiring present and future generations to have the responsibility to jointly preserve and continuously cultivate the great friendship, long-standing tradition, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and Laos.

To do that, the Party committees, authorities, socio-political organizations in the province and the Liaison Committee of Vietnamese Volunteers and Military Experts Helping Laos in Hai Duong province need to strengthen political and ideological education for all classes of people, especially the young generation, so that people can deeply understand and be imbued with the special nature of the great friendship and special solidarity between the two countries. From there, continue to protect, nurture and develop the Vietnam-Laos, Hai Duong-Vientiane relationship to last forever...

NGUYEN QUANG PHUC (Member of the Provincial Party Standing Committee, Head of the Provincial Party Committee's Propaganda Department, Chairman of the Vietnam-Laos Friendship Association of Hai Duong province)

Source: https://baohaiduong.vn/vun-dap-quan-he-huu-nghi-doan-ket-dac-biet-viet-nam-lao-396420.html