Vietnam-Laos friendship year experiences myriad activities across fields
The Consulate General of Vietnam in Laos’s Luang Prabang province has coordinated with eight northern Lao provinces to organise a ceremony reviewing the Vietnam-Laos and Laos-Vietnam Year of Friendship 2022.
Participants pose for a group photo at the event (Photo: VNA)
Vientiane (VNA) - The Consulate General ofVietnam in Laos’s Luang Prabang province has coordinated with eight northern Laoprovinces to organise a ceremony reviewing the Vietnam-Laos and Laos-Vietnam Yearof Friendship 2022.
Addressing the November 30 ceremony, Consul General Kieu Thi Hang Phuc saidin both nations, the year is bustling with activities across all levels in manyfields of politics-diplomacy, defence-security, economy, and culture.
She said political, diplomatic cooperation has beenstrengthened, consolidating the nations’ great friendship, special solidarityand comprehensive cooperation.
According to her, the defence-security between northern Laoprovinces and Vietnamese border provinces like Thanh Hoa, Nghe An, Son La, anda number of military regions have been well maintained via joint patrols,experience exchange sessions, human resources training, and martyrs’ remainssearch and repatriation.
The diplomat also took note of progress made in thebilateral joint works in economy, culture, health, and sci-technology, with manycooperation pacts signed to facilitate trade and investment.
On behalf of the Lao localities, Governor of Oudomxay BounkhongLachiemphone noted that in 2022, the eight provinces and their Vietnam's sister and cooperativeprovinces have exchanged many high-level delegations to visit, work, signcooperation documents, and attend important political events. The two sidesalso exchanged cooperation lessons in all fields, he added.
Friendship activities in the year helped boost mutualunderstanding on the tradition, meaning, and importance of the countries’ loyaland pure relations, the official stressed.
Such joint works need to be expanded in the time to come forcapacity improvement of both sides and for their more effective cooperation, hesaid./.
The Vietnam Fatherland Front (VFF) and the Lao Front for National Construction (LFNC) co-held their 7th international conference on the nations’ border of peace, friendship, and cooperation for mutual development in Laos’ Savannakhet province on November 22.
Vietnam and Laos expect to achieve 2 billion USD in two-way trade in the near future, given that the figure surged 28.2% annually to 1.4 billion USD in ten months of this year, heard a forum held in Vientiane on November 25.
The seventh Vietnam-Laos political consultation took place in Hanoi on November 25 under the co-chair of Deputy Foreign Minister Pham Quang Hieu and his Lao counterpart Phoxay Khaykhamphithoune.
The first Thailand-Vietnam-Laos Business Forum was held in Thailand’s Udon Thani province on November 28, attracting 300 management officials and Vietnamese businesses from the three countries.
The Party and State of Vietnam always attach great importance to and give top priority to the development of Vietnam–China relations. Vietnam is ready to work with the Chinese Party and State to further deepen the Comprehensive Strategic Cooperative Partnership and promote the building of the Vietnam-China community with a shared future that carries strategic significance.
Under the leadership of President Ho Chi Minh and the CPV, President Cuong said, the press has been a steadfast force on the ideological and cultural front, rallying the masses to pursue national aspirations.
NA Chairman Tran Thanh Man stressed the need to accelerate the application of artificial intelligence and smart teaching equipment, innovate teaching and assessment methods, and further improve the quality of formal education.
He also pledged that the NA will promote its ongoing supervision, making sure that every promise must lead to results, and every commitment must bring about real changes.
Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien welcomed the proposals put forward by the US side and reiterated Vietnam’s request for consideration of key areas of interest, including reciprocal tariff policies and access for Vietnamese key export products to the US market.
Deputy PM Le Thanh Long proposed countries promote shared values, including building trust, sincerity, and solidarity among nations and peoples; fostering cooperation spirit and responsible behaviour as well as upholding international law and the UN Charter; and placing people at the centre and as the goal, the key player, and the driving force of all policies.
The show, together with a grand parade to be held silmutaneously at Ba Dinh Square in Hanoi, will celebrate the 80th anniversary of the August Revolution, the National Day, and the General Staff of the Vietnam People’s Army (VPA).
In particular, in April 2023, the two sides successfully carried out a joint operation that dismantled a major organised, transnational drug trafficking ring involving both Vietnamese and Cambodian suspects.
The Vietnamese Embassy in Israel is closely coordinating with relevant local agencies to stay informed and provide the utmost support possible for Vietnamese nationals.
The launch of Thanh Nien (Young People) newspaper in 1925, even before the founding of the Communist Party of Vietnam, is considered a testament to President Ho Chi Minh’s strategic foresight and strong belief in the guiding power of the revolutionary media.
New Zealand is currently one of Vietnam’s most important partners in the region, marked by a high level of political trust, strong and reliable defence and security cooperation, and increasingly open economic, trade, and investment ties.
Party General Secretary To Lam stressed that the Central Public Security Party Committee must be fully aware of the extremely important role of the People's Public Security force in the country's new revolutionary phase, so as to guide each branch and level of the force as the nation undergoes transformation.
Addressing concerns over university education spending, Son explained that as public universities gain greater autonomy, the Ministry of Finance has scaled back recurrent state funding. “Over the past decade, as autonomy has increased, the State's support has steadily declined”, he noted
Lao Minister of Foreign Affairs Thongsavanh Phomvihane affirmed that the presence of Vietnamese press offices in Laos vividly demonstrates the great friendship, special solidarity, and comprehensive cooperation between the two nations, as the press is not only a means of communication but also an important bridge for spreading consciousness about the history, values, and strategic depth of the Laos – Vietnam relationship to the people of both countries and the international community.
The country is willing to participate in collective efforts to promote cooperation and mobilise resources to advance the current priority issues of developing countries, such as trade, investment, infrastructure connectivity, making the most of scientific and technological advances for development, and people-to-people exchanges, Hang said.
During the negotiations, the US highly evaluated Vietnam’s goodwill and efforts, affirmed its appreciation for the bilateral relationship, acknowledged Vietnam’s proposals and concerns, and considered these an important basis for continuing discussions and moving towards a final agreement.
The Chairman stressed the need for stricter fiscal discipline, faster digital transformation, and more efficient management of State budget revenues and expenditures.
Participants pose for a group photo at the event (Photo: VNA) 
