    |
 |
|
Sr. Col. Nguyen Thanh Hai presents flowers to welcome Col. Amphan Xayyasoubat and Lao officers to the event. |
The activities, held as part of the 2nd Vietnam-Laos Border Defense Friendship Exchange, were co-chaired by Senior Colonel Nguyen Thanh Hai, Deputy Political Chief of the Vietnam Border Guard Command, and head of the delegation of Vietnamese young officers, and Colonel Amphan Xayyasoubat, Deputy Director of the Border Guard Department of the General Staff of the Lao People’s Army and head of the Lao delegation.
In his welcoming speech, Col. Hai affirmed that the young officers of Laos and Vietnam are the successors of the revolutionary cause of the armed forces of both countries, playing a crucial role in preserving, nurturing, and developing the traditional friendship and special solidarity between Vietnam and Laos. The young officers’ exchange within the second Vietnam - Laos Border Defense Friendship Exchange demonstrates the two countries’ defense leaders’ care and trust in the younger generation, creating opportunities for young people of the two armed forces to meet, exchange experience, and recall the glorious and heroic traditions of Vietnam-Laos relations, thereby further tightening the special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between the two parties and countries.
|
|
 |
|
Sr. Col. Nguyen Thanh Hai and Col. Amphan Xayyasoubat hand over scholarships to needy students in border areas. |
Authorized by the Vietnamese Ministry of National Defense, the heads of the two delegations awarded 100 scholarships, worth VND 2 million each, to needy students in border localities of Vietnam’s Son La and Laos’ Houaphanh. Delegates then joined young officers of the two sides to plant friendship trees and flowers at border marker 255. Within the program, the Ministry of National Defense donated 60 breeding cows to 60 households living along the shared borderline.
A cross-border running event was also held with the enthusiastic participation of 120 young officers and youths in border localities. The organizers awarded two first and two second prizes to military athletes of the two sides and two first and two second prizes to local youths.
On this occasion, Sopbao district awarded certificates of merit to four medical officers from the Son La provincial Border Guard Command in acknowledgement of their efforts in saving four young Lao people from mushroom poisoning on September 18.
Thanks to the thorough preparation, the initial activities of the Vietnam - Laos young border guard officers exchange program were successfully completed, marking the beginning of further activities within the framework of the second Vietnam-Laos Border Defense Friendship Exchange.
Translated by Tran Hoai