The statement was made by Sounthone Sayachac, head of the Lao Party Central Committee’s Commission for External Relations, in an interview granted to the Vietnam News Agency in Laos on the occasion of the 55th anniversary of the bilateral diplomatic ties and the 40-year signing of the Vietnam-Laos Treaty on Amity and Cooperation.
Head of the Lao Party Central Committee’s Commission for External Relations Sounthone Sayachac (L) and Vietnam News Agency's reporter
She said on September 5, 1992, Laos and Vietnam set up their diplomatic ties, opening up a new chapter in the two countries’ relations.
During the struggle for national liberation in each country, the special friendship and fair-minded help between the two countries and people became a peerless strength and an important factor contributing to their victory in 1975.
According to the official, over the past years, the two countries’ leaders have organised regular visits and meetings. They have paid attention to sharing experience in Party building and official training, and coordinating in external relations work.
Vietnam is among the biggest investors in Laos. Two-way trade has increased continually, contributing to Laos’s socio-economic development.
In recent years, the two countries signed several important cooperative agreements, including a project to build Laos’s National Assembly House, another on Vientiane-Hanoi Highway and an agreement on the two countries’ joint management and use of the Vung Ang port, she stated.
These projects will help create favourable conditions for the two countries to intensify their special friendship and solidarity, she added.
She continued by saying that Laos highly values Vietnam’s support in training the country’s human resources. There are currently more than 10,000 Lao students studying in Vietnam, which will be valuable human resources for Laos’s development in the future.
Amid complicated developments in the regional and international situations, the official recommended several orientations for Laos and Vietnam to maintain their fine relations.
She suggested the two Parties and States consider the education of their people, especially young generation, about the bilateral time-honoured friendship as a key mission.
Sounthone Sayachac also took this occasion to thank the Vietnamese Party, State, and people for supporting the Lao revolution.
She wished Vietnam will gain greater achievements during its industrialisation and modernisation process, and the two countries’ time-honoured friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation will last forever.
Source: VNA