Within the framework of the State visit to the Lao People's Democratic Republic, attending the 50th National Day Celebration of the Lao People's Democratic Republic and co-chairing the High-level Meeting between the Communist Party of Vietnam and the Lao People's Revolutionary Party, on the afternoon of December 1 local time, General Secretary To Lam and the high-ranking Vietnamese delegation visited the Lao National Academy of Politics and Public Administration.
Here, General Secretary To Lam delivered a policy speech with the theme: Inheriting the great friendship, fostering special solidarity, consolidating comprehensive cooperation and promoting Vietnam-Laos strategic ties in the new period.
Also attending were General Secretary and President of Laos Thongloun Sisoulith; leaders of the Lao Party and State; the leadership of the Lao National Academy of Politics and Public Administration; and a large number of teachers, staff, and students of the Lao National Academy of Politics and Public Administration.
Great friendship, special solidarity - strategic adhesive
Speaking at the Academy, General Secretary To Lam congratulated the Lao National Academy of Politics and Public Administration, with its 30-year history of formation and development, for becoming the cradle of training and fostering theory, politics and administration for many leaders and managers in the apparatus of the Lao Party and State - those who shoulder the important responsibility in the cause of building, protecting and developing Laos.
The General Secretary stated that Vietnam and Laos are two neighboring countries with the same aspirations, the same living space and development. Geography is the starting point of natural ties, a place where "we share each other in times of need," a place where we hear the same rooster crow, a bowl of rice, and a grain of salt.
For centuries, the people of the two countries have gone through great historical challenges together, faced the harshness of nature to survive, been invaded by colonialists and imperialists, divided, restrained, oppressed, faced the pressure of survival or united to win or were successively subdued. And what is very special and unique is that the Indochinese Communist Party was born in 1930 to lead the revolutionary movement in Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia.
In that context, the special solidarity between Vietnam and Laos is the only correct choice, a historical necessity of strategic survival. The two nations realize that: "If we want to survive and develop, we must stand together."
On the majestic Truong Son range, the people of the two countries, the army and police units of Laos and Vietnam have relied on each other, protected each other to fight and win. The strategic road across Truong Son winding through the two countries is the road of life, the road of victory, the symbol of the close-knit fighting alliance, solidarity and mutual trust.
It can be said that during the resistance wars against colonialism and imperialism, Vietnam could hardly have won without the support, foothold and strategic coordination of Laos.
The Lao revolution could hardly have won without the great, comprehensive and selfless support of Vietnam. It was a natural fighting alliance, a "strategic symbiosis" in international relations. The blood of the Vietnamese and Lao people together colored the victory flags of the two countries.
Therefore, the Vietnam-Laos relationship, which was painstakingly cultivated by President Ho Chi Minh, President Kaysone Phomvihane, President Souphanouvong and generations of leaders of the two Parties and States, has become a special, pure, and loyal relationship that is rare in history, and a priceless common asset of the two brotherly peoples of Vietnam and Laos.
The General Secretary emphasized that through the practice of revolutionary struggle, we can proudly affirm that "the great friendship, special solidarity, purity, loyalty, comprehensive cooperation, and strategic cohesion" are crystallized from the history of revolutionary struggle full of sacrifice, sharing, and together overcoming dangers, hardships, and challenges.
Solidarity and closeness are the source of the Vietnam-Laos relationship. Without that source of adhesion, we would just be two neighboring countries "standing side by side." With the adhesive "solidarity," we become two nations "standing together," "side by side" in all stages of development.
The world is changing rapidly, if only "cooperation" is not enough, the General Secretary suggested to raise the level from cooperation to "connection" because connection is strategic, has an overall design, has roles, and complements each other; emphasizing 3 directions of connection: Bilateral connection; Sub-regional connection - especially the 3 Indochinese countries; Regional and international connection.
To inherit the great friendship, foster special solidarity, consolidate comprehensive cooperation and promote Vietnam-Laos strategic ties in the new period, the General Secretary suggested that it is necessary to firmly adhere to a number of strategic foundations, namely to firmly adhere to the goal of national independence associated with socialism; together build a border of peace, friendship, cooperation and development; supplement and support each other in terms of resources, assets and development space.
New, deeper, more effective, more sustainable strategic engagement
Regarding the Lao National Academy of Politics and Public Administration and Vietnamese training institutions, the General Secretary emphasized the connection factor in terms of intelligence, theory and human resources.
Vietnam and Laos need to share more deeply their experiences in building and perfecting the socialist rule-of-law state, administrative reform, organization of the political system, public finance management, land management, natural resources and environment management, urban and rural governance, and development of remote and isolated areas.
The Lao National Academy of Politics and Public Administration, academies, Party schools, political schools, and universities of Laos and Vietnam continue to build joint research programs, train strategic-level leaders and managers; master's and doctoral training programs, and form joint research groups on administrative reform, digital transformation in public administration, and sustainable development administration.
In terms of training cadres and nurturing the young generation, the Lao National Academy of Politics and Public Administration and Vietnamese training institutions need to strengthen student and lecturer exchange programs; make more vivid the history of the close, loyal, and pure relationship between the two peoples in educational programs at all levels, in cultural works and works of art of the two countries; strengthen the organization of youth forums and joint training courses on state governance, international relations, integration, and sustainable development; encourage research works, theses, and dissertations on the special Vietnam-Laos relationship, on sub-regional development linkages, and Vietnam-Laos-Cambodia cooperation.
Not only studying together, young people need to live together and work together so that the special solidarity between Vietnam and Laos becomes a lived experience and bears fruit.
The General Secretary said that Vietnam and Laos are not only two neighboring countries, but also two members of a larger community: the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). Within ASEAN, the common voice of Vietnam and Laos will contribute to strengthening solidarity and unity; upholding the principles of consensus and mutual respect; ensuring that ASEAN is the center of regional cooperation structures, without being divided or dragged.
In regional and international mechanisms, the coordination of stances and mutual support between Vietnam and Laos helps each country better protect its legitimate interests; creates more "resonance" for the voice of a developing country; and contributes to peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region and the world.
And it is clear that the special Vietnam-Laos solidarity is not just a "story of two countries" but a positive factor in the security-peace-development structure of the region.
Suggesting a motto for action, which can be considered the "key" for the new stage of strategic solidarity between Vietnam and Laos, the General Secretary pointed out: maintaining strategic trust, attaching great importance to the special solidarity that is consistent; considering special solidarity as the glue, strategic solidarity as the driving force for development, solidarity helps to survive and grow; solidarity helps to stand firm in the increasingly fierce competition for development; maximizing mutual complementarity in geo-economics, geo-politics, geo-culture, borders are the space of development opportunities and integration.
Putting people at the center of every program, project, and linkage policy: Every route, bridge, economic zone, development corridor... is only truly meaningful if the lives of people on both sides of the border are better, youth have more opportunities, and people feel more clearly the benefits from the Vietnam-Laos brotherly relationship.
To continue writing new chapters in the history of Vietnam-Laos in the language of the digital age on the foundation of Vietnam-Laos solidarity bonded by blood, sweat, and tears on the battlefields of the past, today's generation needs to use knowledge, love, humanity, creativity, technology, with practical, effective, humane works and projects, and especially with the passionate hearts of the young generation.
Affirming that the great friendship, special solidarity, comprehensive cooperation and strategic ties between Vietnam and Laos are invaluable assets left by the ancestors and previous generations of revolutionary leaders of the two countries, the General Secretary emphasized the need to care for, preserve, cultivate and promote this invaluable asset. That is the political responsibility, the sentiment, the honor, the reason for living and the conscience of the two peoples.
With the mettle, intelligence, perseverance and creativity of the two Parties and States, with the aspirations of the two peoples to rise up, with the proactive and enthusiastic contributions of the team of cadres, civil servants and students being trained at the Lao National Academy of Politics and Public Administration, General Secretary To Lam believes that the two sides will enter a new phase of strategic engagement, deeper, more effective and more sustainable./.
Source: https://www.vietnamplus.vn/khang-dinh-mach-nguon-doan-ket-dac-biet-viet-nam-lao-trong-thoi-dai-moi-post1080345.vnp
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