Vietnam - Laos Friendship Association plays a key role in further promoting people-to-people diplomacy

On the morning of January 13, in Hanoi, the Vietnam - Laos Friendship Association held a meeting to celebrate its 50th anniversary (January 15, 1975 - January 15, 2025). Politburo member, Secretary of the Party Central Committee, President of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Central Committee Do Van Chien attended and spoke at the meeting.

Member of the Politburo , Secretary of the Party Central Committee, President of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Central Committee Do Van Chien and delegates attending the meeting. Photo: Nguyen Hoa.

Attending the meeting were Mr. Nguyen Dac Vinh, member of the Party Central Committee, Chairman of the National Assembly's Committee for Culture andEducation , President of the Vietnam - Laos Friendship Association; Mr. Phan Anh Son, President of the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations; Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Lao People's Democratic Republic to Vietnam Khamphao Ernthavanh; former leaders of the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations and the Vietnam - Laos Friendship Association of all periods; representatives of central ministries, branches, people's organizations, and a large number of former volunteer soldiers, Vietnamese experts in Laos and Lao students studying in Vietnam.

Chairman of the Vietnam - Laos Friendship Association Nguyen Dac Vinh spoke at the meeting.

Reviewing the 50-year journey of formation and development of the Vietnam - Laos Friendship Association, Chairman of the Vietnam - Laos Friendship Association Nguyen Dac Vinh said that the Association has organized many exchange and cooperation activities, contributing to strengthening the special friendship between the two countries. To meet the requirements and tasks of the new situation as well as the expectations of the Party and State leaders, in the coming years, the Association will focus on innovating the content and methods of operation, promoting education and propaganda work, enhancing people-to-people exchanges, especially focusing on the younger generation.

In addition, the Association will continue to strengthen and develop the organization, while promoting cooperation in the field of education and training between the two countries. Priority will be given to activities of exchange, understanding and strengthening ties between the Youth Union and the young generation of the two countries. The Association also encourages Vietnamese and Lao enterprises to strengthen connections, seek investment opportunities and cooperate in economic development in each country. In addition, the Association will coordinate and create conditions for the Veterans Associations of the two countries to regularly meet and exchange, contributing to fostering the special friendship and long-term solidarity between the people of the two countries.

Chairman of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Do Van Chien spoke at the meeting.

In the joyful atmosphere of the first days of the new year 2025, preparing to celebrate the traditional New Year of the nation, the spring of At Ty, Chairman Do Van Chien expressed his joy and excitement to attend the meeting to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the founding of the Vietnam - Laos Friendship Association; at the same time, he sent to the delegates and distinguished guests attending the meeting his respectful greetings, warm feelings and best wishes.

Chairman Do Van Chien said that on behalf of the Party and State leaders, Comrade Luong Cuong, Politburo member, President of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, sent a letter of congratulations on today's important event. In the letter, the President affirmed the very important position and role of the Vietnam - Laos Friendship Association; acknowledged, praised and congratulated the valuable results that the Association has achieved over the past 50 years; the President also oriented the key tasks in the coming time. Chairman Do Van Chien respectfully requested the Vietnam - Laos Friendship Association to absorb and develop a plan to effectively implement the direction of the President.

According to Chairman Do Van Chien, through this important event, we once again affirm that the Vietnam - Laos, Laos - Vietnam cooperative and friendly relationship is a great friendship, special solidarity, comprehensive cooperation that has been nurtured through many historical periods, tested through the fight against the common enemy and will forever last with the two brotherly peoples of Vietnam and Laos.

“We are extremely happy and proud to witness the increasingly high political trust between Vietnam and Laos and Laos and Vietnam; increasingly close and effective defense and security cooperation; and positive development of economic, cultural, educational, scientific and technological cooperation. The relationship between the two peoples is increasingly close, truly like a grain of salt bitten in half, a stalk of vegetable broken in half,” emphasized Chairman Do Van Chien.

Chairman Do Van Chien also expressed his joy at the fact that over the past 50 years, the Vietnam - Laos Friendship Association has made new developments in terms of scale and organization in provinces and cities, especially the border provinces of Vietnam - Laos. The Association's activities are increasingly rich, diverse, practical, profound and have great influence in society, especially in propagating and educating traditions for the younger generation; contributing to consolidating and strengthening the great friendship, special solidarity, and comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam - Laos, Laos - Vietnam forever green, forever sustainable.

Chairman of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Do Van Chien took a souvenir photo with delegates attending the meeting.

Recognizing, praising and congratulating the valuable results that the Vietnam - Laos Friendship Association has achieved in the past time, Chairman Do Van Chien said that in the coming time, the world, regional and domestic situations of each country, in addition to favorable opportunities, will continue to face many difficulties and challenges. Under the wise leadership of the Party, headed by General Secretary To Lam, Vietnam will enter an era of national growth.

In order to unite and join hands with the entire Party, people and army to realize the aspiration of building a prosperous and happy country, Chairman Do Van Chien suggested that the Vietnam - Laos Friendship Association closely coordinate with the Laos - Vietnam Friendship Association to build a strategic orientation for people-to-people diplomacy in the new period, contributing to the effective implementation of programs, plans, signed agreements and joint statements between the high-ranking leaders of the two Parties and two States; improve the effectiveness and practicality of cooperation activities, enhance information exchange, experience sharing, mutual assistance and support for mutual development; do better in propagating and educating the tradition of the special relationship between Vietnam - Laos as well as the relationship between Vietnam - Laos - Cambodia among all classes of people, especially the young generation.

Along with that, it is necessary to continue to propagate to the people to cooperate closely in building and protecting the Vietnam - Laos border of peace, friendship, stability and prosperous development; coordinate well in organizing exchanges and festivals of border people, increase contact, exchange of information and experience to further enhance mutual understanding and trust.

“We will forever be proud of the special, loyal, steadfast and lasting solidarity between the Vietnamese and Lao peoples as President Ho Chi Minh affirmed: Vietnam and Laos, our two countries/Our love is deeper than the Red River and Mekong River,” President Do Van Chien affirmed.

Chairman Do Van Chien believes that the Vietnam - Laos Friendship Association will inherit and promote the achieved results, learn from the things that have not been done as expected, and closely follow the specific tasks of the Party's foreign affairs and state diplomacy. The Vietnam - Laos Friendship Association will act as the core to further promote people's diplomacy, contributing to bringing the great friendship, special solidarity, and comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and Laos, Laos and Vietnam to new heights, as Chairman Kaysone Phomvihane affirmed: "Mountains may wear away, rivers may dry up, but the Laos - Vietnam friendship will forever be stronger than mountains and rivers".

At the meeting, on behalf of the Presidium of the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations, Mr. Phan Anh Son, President of the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations, awarded the "For Peace and Friendship among Nations" Medal to 14 individuals with outstanding achievements in the people's diplomacy between Vietnam and Laos.