On the Lao side, permanent member of the Secretariat of the Lao Party central Committee, member of the Politburo and Vice State President Phankham Viphavan, member of the Politburo, Defense Minister General Chansamone Chanyalath, other leaders of the Lao Party, State and military, and Lao senior revolutionary veterans while member of the Politburo, Vice Secretary of the Central Military Commission and Defense Minister General Ngo Xuan Lich led a Vietnamese delegation, including representatives of defense agencies and military units, and a large number of former Vietnamese volunteer soldiers and experts who used to do international service in Laos during the past wars.
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A performance at the event |
Vietnam-Lao friendship was built up by Vietnamese volunteer soldiers and experts
The close-knit time-tested relationship and special unity between the Vietnamese and Lao people, which were founded by President Ho Chi Minh and President Kaysone Phomvihane and then fostered by successive leaders and generations of people of the two countries, have continuously thrived over the past seven decades. During the wars against French colonialists and American invaders, the two nations always stood shoulder by shoulder to fight the common enemies. During the wars a large number of Vietnamese soldiers and experts volunteered for international service in Laos, teaming up with the Lao people and armed forces to liberate the nation from colonialist and imperialist oppression.
Looking back at the glorious historical periods, today’s generation of Vietnamese and Lao people can be proud of the foundation and development of the great Vietnam-Lao friendship and special unity – second to none in the world. Particularly, the history of the Vietnam-Lao relationship was also fostered by mutual sentiment, empathy and support as well as common sacrifices by Lao people, armed forces and Vietnamese volunteer soldiers and experts in wartime.
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General Chansamone Chanyalat speaks at the event |
Addressing the celebration, General Chansamone Chanyalat affirmed that the Lao Party, State and people always imprint on the mind that sweat and blood of Vietnamese and Lao revolutionary warriors were mixed in the soil of the Lao territory from the North to the South, and that the sacrifices by the Vietnamese and Lao revolutionary warriors in the past paid for today’s independence, freedom and peace in Laos. The Lao defense minister stressed, “Many years have passed but the Lao Party, State and people have always kept in mind the impartial assistance and sacrifices of Vietnamese people and Army for the Lao revolution. The Lao people’s sentiment and gratitude toward the Vietnamese people will never fade.”
General Chansamone Chanyalat stated that the loyal ties and special unity between Vietnam and Laos have been further strengthened since the end of the last war although the regional and global situation has witnessed quick, complex and unpredictable changes. Further, reactionary and hostile forces have ceaselessly attempted to undermine the two countries’ revolutionary achievements and their time-tested relationship over the past four decades. “In any circumstances, the Lao Party, State, armed forces and people will protect and develop the invaluable bonds and special unity with Vietnam to deserve the great sacrifice of Vietnamese volunteer soldiers and experts in Laos.”
The Lao defense minister affirmed that the Vietnam-Laos relationship has become a valuable asset and a decisive factor for victories of the two countries’ revolution. “On this great occasion, I, on behalf of the Lao Party, State, army and people, thank the Vietnamese Party, State, army and people – the dear friend of Laos, for the impartial, timely, great, valuable and effective support for the Lao revolution over the past 70 years. Especially, we, the Lao people, will always remember the enormous contribution of Vietnamese volunteer soldiers and experts serving in Laos to the country,” General Chansamone Chanyalat stated.
Further cultivating the Vietnam-Laos special unity
During the wars against their common enemies, Vietnamese volunteer soldiers and experts experienced numerous hardships and difficulties but excellently accomplished their assignments in Laos. A number of units and individuals of the Vietnamese volunteer army in Laos have been presented with noble awards.
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General Ngo Xuan Lich addresses the event |
In his address at the ceremony, General Ngo Xuan Lich underlined the importance of the celebration, saying that the event once again confirmed the special unity and loyal ties between the two Parties, States, armies and peoples. “We, Vietnamese and Lao people, are very proud of the past years when the two armies and peoples shared every difficulty, stood soldier by soldier, together fought the common enemies, together laid down their lives in the battlefields and together enjoyed the final victory. The glorious historical days saw many feats of arms of the combat alliance of Vietnamese volunteer soldiers and Lao revolutionary warriors who shared the same trench and fought the common enemies in fierce battles across Laos. Time has passed by but the victories of the Vietnam-Lao combat alliance will forever be an immortal epic, a bright example of revolutionary heroism and the premise for the power of international solidarity. It also serves as a firm foundation for the two countries to together strive for a bright future,” General Ngo Xuan Lich spoke at the ceremony.
The Vietnamese defense minister also highlighted positive outcomes of the bilateral defense cooperation, affirming that it has become an important pillar of the Vietnam-Lao relations.
He held that the situation in the region and world would see complex developments with destabilizing factors that would directly impact the national development and defense cause of each country. In this context, according to him, each country’s armed forces would face more difficulties in safeguarding national independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity as well as in protecting the Party, State, people, national interests, and socialism.
The new situation will set new requirements for the Vietnam-Laos traditional relationship and comprehensive cooperation. General Lich said, “The Party, State, army and people of Vietnam will do their utmost to further foster the special unity, traditional loyal friendship between Vietnam and Laos. The Vietnamese side will expand cooperation with the Lao Party, State, army and people in all fields, particularly politics, economics, culture, education, healthcare, science and technology, defense, security and foreign affairs.”
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Delegates in a group photo |
The Vietnamese defense minister stressed that the two countries should promote defense and security cooperation to create a peaceful environment for socio-economic development in each country. Particularly, he suggested the two sides enhance coordination in building and protecting a Vietnam-Laos borderline of peace, stability and prosperity while actively teaming up to fight cross-border smuggling, drug trafficking and other crimes. The two sides should also regularly hold border friendship exchanges, strengthen information sharing and experience exchange between border forces of the two sides so as to improve mutual understanding and trust.
Further, the two militaries should promote comprehensive cooperation and support each other in building a revolutionary regular, elite and gradually modernized army. Next, the two militaries should coordinate closely with each other in defeating any plots and acts of reactionary and hostile forces to sabotage the political system of each country and to undermine the time-honored relationship between the two nations. Military units of the two countries should also join hands in natural disaster relief and rescue along the shared borderline. The Vietnamese defense minister also hoped that the Lao side continues supporting the Vietnamese side in searching and repatriating remains of fallen Vietnamese volunteer soldiers and experts in Laos.
“On behalf of the Vietnamese people and army, I would like to express sincere thanks to the Lao people who rendered great support and assistance, loved and treated Vietnamese volunteer soldiers and experts like their relatives during the wars, contributing significantly to their victories and task accomplishment,” General Ngo Xuan Lich concluded his moving remarks.
Written by Thu Trang from Vientiane, Laos
Translated by Thu Nguyen