Fifth Vietnam-Laos People Friendship Festival opens in Quang Tri
The fifth Vietnam-Laos People Friendship Festival opened in the central province of Quang Tri, which borders Laos’ Savannakhet and Salavan provinces, on September 28.
Delegates at the fifth Vietnam-Laos People Friendship Festival. (Photo: VNA)
Quang Tri (VNA) – The fifth Vietnam-Laos People FriendshipFestival opened in the central province of Quang Tri, which borders Laos’ Savannakhetand Salavan provinces, on September 28.
In his opening remarks, President of the Vietnam-LaosFriendship Association Tran Van Tuy said that the festival offers a chance forthe two countries to look back at their traditional solidarity and glorious struggles fornational liberation, especially when Quang Tri and Laos' Savannakhet are the two historical locations on the legendary Truong Son Trail, which is one of the important factors behind the victory of the two countries.
Through the festival’s activities, delegates will exchange experience and measures to step up friendship and cooperationactivities between the two peoples, he said.
Politburo member and permanent Vice Chairman of the NationalAssembly Tran Thanh Man, who is also President of the Vietnam-Laos FriendshipParliamentarians’ Group, affirmed that the solidarity, cooperation and mutualassistance between Vietnam and Laos is an objective rule, a vital factor, andan invaluable common property of the two nations.
He expressed his hope that the two countries’ friendship organisationswill continue speeding up practical activities to strengthen mutualunderstanding of the two peoples, especially young generations, to maintain andfurther develop the great friendship, special solidarity and comprehensivecooperation between Vietnam and Laos, thus contributing to their growth, andthe region’s peace and stability.
Boviengkham Vongdala, member of the Central Committee of theLao People's Revolutionary Party, Minister of Technology and Communications,and President of the Laos-Vietnam Friendship Association, said that the associationwill do its utmost to, together with the Vietnamese Party, State and people, maintainand promote the bilateral ties.
The festival is taking place from September 27-30 in Quang Triand Savannakhet. A number of events will be held within the framework of thefestival, including a conference on friendship activities between Vietnam andLaos, visits to a number of revolutionary historical sites and delivery ofgifts to disadvantaged people in border areas./.
Delegations from Vietnam’s central province of Quang Binh and the Lao province of Champasak reached a cooperation document during their talks in Dong Hoi city on September 26.
A quiz on the history of Vietnam-Laos relations for students was hosted by the Vientiane Department of Education and Sports in the Lao capital on September 27.
Pasaxon, the official newspaper of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party, on September 27 published an article highlighting the significance of the establishment of Vietnam-Laos diplomatic ties, saying that it is a victory for the revolutionary forces of the two Parties and countries.
Standing Vice Chairman of the National Assembly Tran Thanh Man highly appreciated the positive developments in people-to-people exchanges between the two countries during a reception held on September 27 for delegates who are attending the fifth Vietnam-Laos People Friendship Festival in Vietnam's central province of Quang Tri.
State President Luong Cuong’s trip once again reaffirmed the Party and State’s foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, diversification and multilateralisation of relations. It also reflected the strong trend of enhanced cooperation among countries of the Global South in shaping a new, more multipolar, fair and equitable world order.
The outcomes of Party General Secretary To Lam's visit will serve as a driving force and source of inspiration for the two countries to inherit, promote, and elevate their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, contributing to the national construction and development cause in each country, and to peace, cooperation, and development in the region and the world.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on August 9 inspected the construction site of the new Phong Chau bridge, and surveyed a planned route for the Lao Cai – Hanoi – Hai Phong railway section running through the northern province of Phu Tho.
Across print, broadcast, and online platforms, Angolan media portrayed State President Luong Cuong's visit as a warm and historic occasion, strengthening bilateral ties and boosting Vietnam’s presence in Africa through the AU.
The 500kV Lao Cai – Vinh Yen power transmission line has a total investment of over 7.41 trillion VND (282.5 million USD), and a total length of 229.5 km, passing through 31 communes in the two provinces, and comprising 468 transmission tower foundations.
The visits reflected the elevated position of Vietnam’s foreign policy in the new era—aimed at not only advancing ties with key regional partners like Egypt and Angola but also delivering a strategic message about Vietnam’s commitment to deepening relations with African nations as a whole.
At their talks and meetings, President Cuong and Angola’s top leaders affirmed that the close brotherhood and traditional friendship are a valuable shared asset and a solid foundation for the two nations to advance into a new phase of development.
The ruling People’s Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA) attaches great importance to the friendship, solidarity, and comradeship with the Communist Party of Vietnam, and voiced her Party’s wish to further deepen and expand relations between the two sides for the benefit of the Vietnamese and Angolan people.
Vietnam pledges to do its utmost to build an ASEAN of solidarity, consensus, and unity in diversity, and to foster a fast and sustainable development path for ASEAN, grounded in science, technology, and innovation, said Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh.
Party General Secretary To Lam called on the criminal police force to accelerate the application of science, technology, artificial intelligence, and digital transformation in criminal investigation tasks such as crime prevention, detection, tracking and verification, ensuring that no area remains out of their reach.
Many Koreans living, studying, and working in Hanoi see the upcoming state visit to the Republic of Korea (RoK) by Party General Secretary To Lam as an opportunity to generate strong synergy in economic cooperation, people-to-people exchanges, and cultural understanding.
The achievements of the five decades of Vietnam–Angola cooperation provide a strong and enduring foundation, as well as momentum for the two sides to consolidate, expand, and bring their partnership into a new phase of development.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh stressed that the emulation and commendation work is a vital driver, fostering patriotism, dedication, and collective momentum in the run-up to the 11th National Patriotic Emulation Congress, Party congresses at all levels, and the 14th National Party Congress.
Emphasising the need for sustainable, long-term collaboration, National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man called on Japanese investors not only to bring in capital but also to share expertise and modern technology, especially in areas such as green transformation, the circular economy, and advanced corporate governance.
President Luong Cuong's activities during his state visit to Angola, the celebration of the financial sector's 80th traditional day, and the Foreign Ministry's flag-hoisting ceremony marking the 58th founding anniversary of ASEAN are among news highlights on August 8.
Vietnamese Ambassador to Thailand Pham Viet Hung praised the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ meaningful initiative, noting that the ASEAN Family Run was not only a sporting activity but also an opportunity for diplomats and their families to show unity, connection, and solidarity within the ASEAN family.
Politburo member, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on August 8 attended the first congress of the Party Organisation of Tay Ho ward of Hanoi for the 2025–2030 term, during which he called for fresh momentum to turn the ward into a model that takes the lead in all fields.
The size of the economy increased from over 5 billion USD in 1986 to over 476 billion USD by 2024, making Vietnam the fourth-largest economy in Southeast Asia and the 34th largest in the world.
The ASEAN flag-hoisting ceremony is observed by the 10 ASEAN member countries on August 8 every year, aiming to spread and promote the ASEAN identity and affirm the determination to unite and cooperate for the common aspiration of long-term peace and prosperity of Southeast Asian countries under the common roof of the ASEAN Community.
Vice Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee Nguyen Manh Cuong highlighted ASEAN’s nearly six decades of development, during which the region transformed from division to harmony, from confrontation to cooperation, and from poverty to dynamic growth, becoming a global bright spot for regional cooperation.
Delegates at the fifth Vietnam-Laos People Friendship Festival. (Photo: VNA) 
