Major General Vu Ba Trung, Deputy Political Commissar of the General Department of Logistics, head of the Vietnamese delegation, talked to the People’s Army Newspaper about the program.
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Major General Vu Ba Trung |
Reporter: Could you tell us about the meaning of this program?
Major General Vu Ba Trung: Vietnam and Laos are the neighboring nations that have always been side by side and shared both weal and woe with each other. Their special and unique ties have come from their close geographical features, the historical common-grounds in the fight against the common invaders, and the close cooperation and mutual support during each country’s cause of national construction and defense.
The close relationship was founded and nurtured by President Ho Chi Minh and President Kaysone Phomvihane and continuously strengthened by the two nations’ leaders. Since the two nations shoulder to shoulder fought the common enemies and rendered great supports to each other in the resistance wars as well as shared hardships with each other during the initial periods of each country’s national development, the Vietnam-Laos ties have now become an invaluable asset, vital rule and source of strength of both countries. In the bilateral relations, the defense cooperation has always symbolized the special solidarity, friendship, and credibility between the two nations.
During the program, medical personnel of the General Department of Logistics will collaborate with their Lao counterparts to provide health checkups, free medicines and medical counselling for locals in Xiengkhor district, where the Lao People’s Army was established, contributing to reinforcing the Vietnam-Laos defense relationship in general and the cooperation between the two military logistic sectors in particular.
Reporter: How big is this year’s program?
Major General Vu Ba Trung: Nearly 100 medical personnel from relevant units of the General Department of Logistics will offer health checkups to about 1,500 locals and present gifts to disadvantaged people in Xiengkhor district. During the six-day program, the two militaries will pay visits and tribute to the Lao people, who took care of former Lao soldiers and Vietnamese voluntary soldiers during the national resistance wars against foreign invaders. It also creates an opportunity for the two military logistic sectors to exchange and share professional experience, contributing to fostering their collaboration in the time to come.
Reporter: What did the General Department of Logistics do to prepare for the program?
Major General Vu Ba Trung: The Vietnam’s General Department of Logistics well collaborated with relevant Vietnamese agencies and Lao counterparts to prepare for the mission. Good doctors and medical personnel majoring in various medical specialties as well as modern medical equipment has been used since the beginning of the program starting from December 22.
The program will take place in several Lao localities, therefore, the participating Vietnamese medical personnel have been instructed to strictly observe the Party’s guidelines and the State’s policies on defense external affairs. In addition, they were urged to promote responsibility, overcome hardship, and well collaborate with relevant agencies to fulfill their assigned mission, contributing to leaving a good impression of the Vietnam People’s Army on locals.
Reporter: Thank you so much!
Translated by Trung Thanh