Hanoi (VNA) - A grand ceremony washeld in Hanoi on December 2 to mark Laos’ 45th National Day (December 2) andthe 100th birthday of late President Kaysone Phomvihane (December 13).

Those present included Politburo member andNational Assembly (NA) Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan, former Party GeneralSecretary Nong Duc Manh, former President Tran Duc Luong, and former NAChairman Nguyen Van An, along with many Politburo members and senior officials ofVietnam.

In her address, Ngan congratulated Laos on itsenormous and comprehensive achievements over the last 45 years, which havehelped it weather every difficulty and challenge, develop sustainably, improveliving standards, and promote its stature in the world.

She attributed the Lao Party and people’saccomplishments largely to the major contribution of President KaysonePhomvihane, “a beloved leader of the Lao Party, State, and people and also agreat, close, and faithful friend of the Vietnamese Party, State, and people,”she said.

Together with President Ho Chi Minh and PresidentSouphanouvong, President Kaysone Phomvihane laid a solid foundation for andwholeheartedly nurtured the Vietnam-Laos relationship, turning bilateral tiesinto a special role model for international relations, according to the toplegislator.

She emphasised that the two countries have made unendingefforts to strengthen cooperation in all respects, from politics, diplomacy,security and defence, economy, education, and science-technology to culture andpeople-to-people exchanges, and posted a number of outstanding outcomes.

These have greatly helped safeguard sovereigntyand territory, boost socio-economic development, and raise the standing of bothcountries in the international arena, the NA leader noted, reiterating that“the Party, State, NA, Government, and people of Vietnam treasure and give thehighest priority to the great friendship, special solidarity, and comprehensivecooperation between Vietnam and Laos.”

Despite the volatile global and regionalsituation, the faithfulness between the two nations never changes and is alwaysdeep in the hearts of the two peoples, she affirmed.

Ngan also thanked Laos for cooperating closelywith and supporting Vietnam in fulfilling its role as Chair of ASEAN and Chairof the 41st General Assembly of the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA)in 2020.


On behalf of the Lao Party, State, and people,Ambassador Sengphet Houngboungnuang said the Laos-Vietnam great friendship,special solidarity, and comprehensive cooperation are priceless assets sharedby both peoples.

He acknowledged the Vietnamese Party, State, andpeople’s wholehearted assistance to his country during the struggle fornational liberation in the past as well as national construction and defence atpresent.

Since its reform policy began in 1986, Laos hasmaintained political stability and relatively rapid economic growth. Livingstandards have increasingly improved, with per-capita income topping 2,700 USDthis year. Its external relations have been expanded, while foreign investmentin the country has also been on the rise, he noted.

The ambassador again offered his sympathies overthe huge losses caused by recent natural disasters in Vietnam’s central andCentral Highlands regions. He also thanked the Vietnamese Government forpresenting 1,000 tonnes of rice to help Lao people, especially those inSavannakhet province, address the consequences of flooding.

Meanwhile, Nguyen Dong Anh, Secretary of the HoChi Minh Communist Youth Union Committee at the Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam,pledged that young Vietnamese people will always respect the Vietnam-Laosspecial relationship and do their utmost to maintain ties forever./.