Serving as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic to Vietnam over the two past years, Ambassador Sengphet has experienced Tet festival in Vietnam twice.
To his mind, Tet is the time for the Vietnamese people to temporarily set aside worries in life to reunite with their families, friends, and relatives.
Sharing with the People’s Army Newspaper, the Lao Ambassador said that time has gone by so fast. He has twice directly witnessed the Vietnamese people preparing for Tet festival. The traditional customs during Tet holiday highlight unique features in the Vietnamese culture. These customs have given him a better understanding of Vietnam and its people.
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Lao Ambassador to Vietnam Sengphet Houngboungnuang |
Nothing is better than family gatherings during Tet festival. But Tet is not simple like that. Tet is also an occasion for luckier people to share difficulties with disadvantaged people in remote and mountainous areas, helping bring a cozier and happier lunar New Year festival to them.
The Party and State of Vietnam implement policies to support needy people who are living in remote and mountainous areas and create favorable conditions for them to welcome a cozy Tet holiday together with people in the whole nation. These policies consolidate the people’s belief in the leadership of the Communist Party of Vietnam, Ambassador Sengphet underlined.
According to the Lao ambassador, since the 13th National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam wrapped up successfully, Vietnam’s external affairs and international integration have been implemented in a comprehensive and extensive manner through virtual meetings between Vietnam and many countries in the world, the Party and State leader’s visits to foreign countries, especially Vietnam’s role as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council for the 2020-2021 term as well as its participation in other regional and international forums. Notably, in the context of the scarcity of COVID-19 vaccines, Vietnam’s vaccine diplomacy so far has made important achievements.
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Authorized by senior leaders, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on October 25, 2021, held a ceremony to hand over gifts of the Vietnamese Party, State, and people to the Lao Party, State, and people in support of the country in the COVID-19 prevention and control. |
Looking back upon 2021, Ambassador Sengphet expressed his delight at the flourishing relations between Vietnam and Laos despite the complicated COVID-19 situation. When the first COVID-19 cases were reported and widely spread in Laos, Vietnam was the first nation to provide medical supplies and equipment for as well as sending experienced doctors and medical experts to the neighboring country despite facing many difficulties in the fight against COVID-19 itself. This invaluable and timely support has contributed to strengthening the special relationship between the two countries.
As the lunar New Year festival is drawing near, on behalf of the Lao Party, State, and people, Ambassador Sengphet sincerely thanked the Party, State, and people of Vietnam for their great, precious assistance to Laos in the past struggles for national liberation as well as in the current cause of national construction and defense. He strongly believed that in the time to come, Vietnam-Laos ties will continue to develop, be forever green, and eternally sustainable.
In the year of 2022, the COVID-19 pandemic may continue to spread and become more complicated. The world is forecast to witness rapid and unexpecting changes posing both opportunities and challenges for all countries. Obviously, Vietnam is not an exception.
However, in the ambassador’s opinion, if Vietnam consistently pursues the foreign policy line of independence, self-reliance, peace, friendship, cooperation and development, diversification and multilateralization of foreign relations, comprehensive and extensive international integration as stated in the Resolution of the 13th National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam, the country will get more remarkable achievements in foreign affairs and international integration activities, contributing to enhancing its role and position in the regional and international arenas.
Finally, Ambassador Sengphet Houngboungnuang wished that under the leadership of the Communist Party of Vietnam, the people of Vietnam will continue to gain new and greater achievements in the cause of national construction and development, making Vietnam a strong country with wealthy people and a society of equality, democracy and civilization.
Translated by Quynh Oanh