The friendship has once again been brought to a new height in modern times as the two countries have stayed shoulder by shoulder fighting common enemies for national independence and freedom of each country. During those difficult days of their national liberation wars, the Vietnamese and Lao peoples always rendered material and spiritual supports to each other, and the saying “Sharing a bowl of rice, halving a grain of salt” has ever become an immortal symbol, praising the noble friendship between the two nations.
An art program marking Vietnam-Laos ties
After the 1975 victory, both Vietnam and Laos enjoyed peace, independence and freedom, and the Vietnam-Laos relationship has been shifted to a new era, in which the two peoples enjoy peace and independence, trying their best to build socialism in each country. To further promote traditional friendship and special unity between the two nations, the two governments signed the Treaty on Amity and Cooperation on July 18, 1977.
The agreement, which was based on the Vietnam-Laos Joint Statement on February 11, 1976, aims to expand long-term cooperation between the two countries, supporting each other in the national construction and defense cause of each country for their independence and prosperity, contributing to maintaining peace and stability in the region and world.
The past 40 years, since the signing of the treaty, has witnessed a large number of great achievements in the Vietnam-Laos special friendship and unity, which have continuously been inherited and brought into full play by the two Parties, States and peoples. The achievements in the bilateral cooperation have contributed significantly to national construction and defense of each country as well as to peace, stability and development in the region.
During the time, the two sides well maintained bilateral cooperation mechanisms, particularly annual meetings of the Intergovernmental Committee on bilateral cooperation, exchange of delegations at all levels and close coordination at multilateral forums. The two sides also established a new annual dialogue mechanism at the foreign ministerial level in December 2014, and an annual political consultation mechanism at the deputy foreign ministerial level in July 2015.
Regarding trade and economic cooperation, by February 2017, Vietnam invested some USD 3.7 billion in 408 projects in Laos. Many are operating effectively, making a positive contribution to the two countries’ economic development, creating new jobs for locals and benefiting the local welfare system. Particularly, Vietnamese-run projects joined Lao efforts in eliminating hunger and reducing poverty, which has been recognized and highly valued by the Lao leadership and people.
Over the past years, the two countries have continuously bolstered defense-security cooperation. The two sides well coordinated in implementing defense-security cooperation agreements. Especially, the two sides successfully held a grand ceremony on March 16, 2016, in Hanoi with the participation of the two prime ministers of the two countries to mark the completion of the project to increase and upgrade the border markers along the shared borderline. The two sides also signed a Protocol on Vietnam-Laos Borderline and Markers, and at the same time, stepping up the implementation of agreements inked by the two governments on dealing with issues relating to free cross-border migration and uncertified marriage between people living along the shared border.
Meanwhile, the Lao side has rendered great support for the Vietnamese side in searching, collecting and repatriating remains of fallen Vietnamese volunteer soldiers and specialists. In the 2015-16 dry season, the two sides repatriated 233 sets of remains of Vietnamese volunteer soldiers and specialists who had laid down their lives in Laos during the wars.
The two sides also boosted the implementation of transport projects in an effort to enhance connections between the two countries and localities of the two countries, within the frameworks of both bilateral cooperation and sub-regional cooperation. The two governments also signed a memorandum of understanding on a strategy for transportation cooperation in the 2016-25 period with a vision toward 2030, and are considering applying the “One Door, One Stop” model to various pairs of border gates of the two countries along the shared borderline.
Another highlight in Vietnam-Laos traditional friendly relations is education and training cooperation. In fact, the two Parties and States have given first and foremost priority to cooperation on personnel training. To facilitate the cooperation, the two sides have signed a number of deals on education and training.
As part of the bilateral education and training cooperation, the two sides frequently shared experience in leadership, management and execution of each country. Meanwhile, cooperation between ministries, Central agencies and national assembly committees of the two countries have been strengthened in recent years and brought about practical and fruitful results. Vietnamese provinces and cities have also actively expanded cooperation with Lao localities, supporting Lao friends in building infrastructural projects, training local-level personnel and providing free health checkups and medicines for Lao people living along the shared borderline.
What is more, the two sides have always supported each other at multilateral forums while both also joined common efforts in building the ASEAN Community, maintaining the bloc’s unity and consensus on regional strategic issues.
The world and region are experiencing swift developments, creating both opportunities and challenges for both countries. On the 40th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty on Amity and Cooperation between Vietnam and Laos (July 18,1977 - July 18, 2017), all Vietnamese people believe that the traditional faithful and clear friendship and special solidarity between Vietnam and Laos, which has been featured by Lao President Kaysone Phomvihane’s saying “The river may dry up, the mountain may erode away, but the Laos-Vietnam friendship will never be shakable and will live forever,” will restlessly be fostered by the two Parties, States and peoples. Despite changes in the world, next generations of Vietnamese and Lao people will closely follow their parents and grandparents, inheriting and promoting the Vietnam-Laos time-honored and trustworthy friendship and special solidarity.
Written by Editorial Board
Translated by Thu Nguyen