VIETNAM - LAOS: EVERLASTING ATTACHMENT

Sunday - 06/12/2020 15:44

In the history of the international cooperation, the special relation between Vietnam and Laos is a typical, exemplary, rare example for the tight, faithful, pure and effective attachment between the two peoples who have struggled for independence, freedom and social advances. On the occasion of the 45th anniversary of the National Day of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic (December 02nd, 1975 - December 02nd, 2020), we look back on the special relation between the two peoples in general and between Binh Dinh province and the localities of Laos in particular for the everlasting and sustainable development in the coming time.

The delegation of Salavan province visiting Binh Dinh province in August 2016
(Photo Credit: IPC Binh Dinh)

Tight relation between the two Parties, States and peoples of the two countries of Vietnam and Laos

In early 1930, the Communist Party of Vietnam was established, marking a great turning point of the Vietnamese revolution. In October, 1930, the National Congress of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam decided to change the name “the Communist Party of Vietnam” to “the Communist Party of Indochina”; established the principles, directions, political lines and basic tasks for the revolutionary movement of the three peoples (Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia) in Indochina.

The period from 1930 to 1945 was the time the peoples of Vietnam and Laos relied on each other in the stuggle for independence, freedom under the leadership of the Communist Party of Indochina.

In the context of “Indochina as a battlefield” and the resistance to the common enemies of the peoples of Vietnam and Laos from 1945 to 1975, it was necessary for the two countries to unite and help each other both for the performance of the international obligations and for the benefits of each nation.

In April, 1975, with the great successes of the peoples of Vietnam and Cambodia, especially the victory of the entire South liberation (April 30th, 1975) of the people of Vietnam, on May 05th, 2020, the Poliburo of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party organized the open conference and decided to launch the whole Party, people and army in the whole country to revolt to take the government and won a complete victory. The birth of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic is the great and absolute victory of the people of the ethnic groups of Laos and is also an important victory of the special relation and alliance of loyal solidarity in combat between the two peoples of Vietnam and Laos.

After 1975, the relation between the two countries moves to a completely new page: It moves from a alliance of fighting in the common trenches to comprehensive cooperation between the two countries with independent sovereignty. Under the leadership of the Communist Party of Vietnam and the Lao People's Revolutionary Party, the peoples of the two countries have more and more conditions to promote the good traditions that used to stick in the struggle against the enemies, to build and strengthen the comprehensive cooperation relation in politics, national defense and security, economy, culture, education, etc.

With many ups and downs and the historical events, the peoples of the two countries of Vietnam - Laos always stand shoulder to shoulder and share the same things. The a special relation of solidarity and friendship, loyalty, purity between the two Parties, States and peoples of the two countries of Vietnam - Laos has been built with efforts and sacrifices by so many cadres, party members, compatriots and soldiers of the two peoples, which is a great source of strength to help the two peoples fight and defeat all enemies on the path of national liberation, protection of the territorial integrity and construction of prosperous nations with civilized and happy people.

The special relation with its foundation laid by President Ho Chi Minh has achived deep and comprehensive development. He used to say,

“Loving each other, we climb all mountains,
Cross all rivers, come over all mountain passes
For our two countries of Vietnam and Laos,
Love is even deeper than Hong Ha - Cuu Long rivers”

The advice reminded the generations of the two countries about the love and very strong attachment that needs to be preserved and promoted. President Kaysone Phomvihane also affirmed: "The river may be dry, the mountain may wear out, but the Laos - Vietnam love will forever be more sustainable than the mountain, river".

Continuing and promoting the fine traditions, today the Party, State and people of Vietnam and the Party, State and people of the Laos have constantly deepened and passed them to the generations to come and considered them as a development rule and one of the factors that ensure the victory in the construction and protection of the Fatherland of each country.

Binh Dinh - Southern Laos cooperation for mutual development

Implementing the policies of the Party and State on strengthening the friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation relation between the two countries, the leaders of Binh Dinh province and the leaders of the Southern provinces of Laos have exchanged visits and signed cooperation programmes for the socio-economic development, assurance of the national defense and security. The sectors, organizations and enterprises of the two sides have implemented the cooperation programmes and achieved many good results.

The comprehensive cooperation programme between Binh Dinh province and four Southern provinces of Laos (Attapu, Champasak, Salavan, Sekong) was carried out in many fields including agriculture, industry and trade, education - training, health, culture - sport - tourism, security and national defense, etc, in which human resource training is an important field with the long-term strategy and many practical effects. Binh Dinh province has granted scholarships to the students of the Southern provinces of Laos to study Vietnamese and many different majors at different levels from the degree of associate, degree of bachelor to the degree of master.

From 2002 to now, Quy Nhon University has trained and granted the certificates of Vietnamese language to about 1,000 students, granted degrees of bachelor to 485 students and degrees of master to 23 students. From 2014 to now, Binh Dinh province has granted scholarships to 154 Laotain students to study at Quy Nhon College of Engineering and Technology with many majors such as electricity, electronics technology, mechanics, automobile technology, welding, etc. At present, there are a total of 117 Laotain students studying at the training institutions in the province. In addition, cooperation in agriculture has achieved many practical results and has been highly valued by the provinces of Laos. Binh Dinh province has sent its experts to help the provinces of Laos in terms of technical assistance; provided the provinces with the plant varieties, animals, agricultural materials; received the delegations of the Southern provinces of Laos to the provicne for purposes of visit, study and exchange of experience in the agriculture and forestry and rural development; carried out the programmes, projects; bought the agricultural products; provided training and technical assistance in the field of cultivation and animal husbandry, etc. In the field of industry and trade, the two sides have strengthened trade, tourism promotion activities; introduced the products and goods; looked for business partners and expanded the markets. Over the past time, many enterprises of Binh Dinh province have invested and done business in Laos. Most of the investment projects implemented by Binh Dinh enterprises achieve good results, create jobs for the local people and are highly valued by the leaders of the provinces of Laos, which contributes to the improvement of the friendship and cooperation relation between Binh Dinh province and the Southern provinces of Laos.

Chairman of Binh Dinh People’s Committee Ho Quoc Dung (right) visiting the Rubber Forest
of BIDINA in Sekong province in 2016 (Photo Credit: BD Portal)

Enhancement of cooperation towards quality and efficiency

With the great results of the comprehensive cooperation relation between Vietnam and Laos over the past years, the highest priority is to promote the special relation to the new heights in terms of quality and efficiency, contributing to maintainance of the political security stability, sustainable economic growth, deeper integration and worthy positions in the international arena.

The entire Party, people and army of Binh Dinh province will strive to successfully implement the Resolution adopted at the 20th Party Congress of the Provincial Party Committee with the goal of developing Binh Dinh province into the group of leading provinces in Central Vietnam, with the focus put on five main pillars including industry; tourism; high-tech agriculture; port services and logistics; urban economy associated with the urbanization process; and at the same time, consider the improvement of the investment environment, improvement of the quality of human resources, completion of the socio-economic infrastructure, and development of the northern growth pole of the province as the breakthroughs. With such goals, the province will continue to expand its foreign relations and international cooperation with the foreign partners and localities, especially promoting and deepening the friendship and solidarity relation with the Southern provinces of Laos.

In the coming time, Binh Dinh province and the Southern provinces of Laos will assess the cooperation programmes of the 2016-2021 period and consider signing the expansion of cooperation for the next period towards quality and efficiency, contributing to the bringing of the relation between Vietnam and Laos in general, Binh Dinh and the Southern provinces of Laos in particular to a new height to serve the aspirations and benefits of the two peoples for peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region and in the world.

Author: Ngoc Xuan