National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan addresses the ceremony in Hanoi on December 2 (Photo: VNA)
Hanoi (VNA) - A grand ceremony was
held in Hanoi on December 2 to mark Laos’ 45th National Day (December 2) and
the 100th birthday of late President Kaysone Phomvihane (December 13).
Those present included Politburo member and
National Assembly (NA) Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan, former Party General
Secretary Nong Duc Manh, former President Tran Duc Luong, and former NA
Chairman Nguyen Van An, along with many Politburo members and senior officials of
Vietnam.
In her address, Ngan congratulated Laos on its
enormous and comprehensive achievements over the last 45 years, which have
helped it weather every difficulty and challenge, develop sustainably, improve
living standards, and promote its stature in the world.
She attributed the Lao Party and people’s
accomplishments largely to the major contribution of President Kaysone
Phomvihane, “a beloved leader of the Lao Party, State, and people and also a
great, close, and faithful friend of the Vietnamese Party, State, and people,”
she said.
Together with President Ho Chi Minh and President
Souphanouvong, President Kaysone Phomvihane laid a solid foundation for and
wholeheartedly nurtured the Vietnam-Laos relationship, turning bilateral ties
into a special role model for international relations, according to the top
legislator.
She emphasised that the two countries have made unending
efforts to strengthen cooperation in all respects, from politics, diplomacy,
security and defence, economy, education, and science-technology to culture and
people-to-people exchanges, and posted a number of outstanding outcomes.
These have greatly helped safeguard sovereignty
and territory, boost socio-economic development, and raise the standing of both
countries in the international arena, the NA leader noted, reiterating that
“the Party, State, NA, Government, and people of Vietnam treasure and give the
highest priority to the great friendship, special solidarity, and comprehensive
cooperation between Vietnam and Laos.”
Despite the volatile global and regional
situation, the faithfulness between the two nations never changes and is always
deep in the hearts of the two peoples, she affirmed.
Ngan also thanked Laos for cooperating closely
with and supporting Vietnam in fulfilling its role as Chair of ASEAN and Chair
of the 41st General Assembly of the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA)
in 2020.
A singing and dancing performance at the ceremony (Photo: VNA)
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 shared
by both peoples.
He acknowledged the Vietnamese Party, State, and
people’s wholehearted assistance to his country during the struggle for
national liberation in the past as well as national construction and defence at
present.
Since its reform policy began in 1986, Laos has
maintained political stability and relatively rapid economic growth. Living
standards have increasingly improved, with per-capita income topping 2,700 USD
this year. Its external relations have been expanded, while foreign investment
in the country has also been on the rise, he noted.
The ambassador again offered his sympathies over
the huge losses caused by recent natural disasters in Vietnam’s central and
Central Highlands regions. He also thanked the Vietnamese Government for
presenting 1,000 tonnes of rice to help Lao people, especially those in
Savannakhet province, address the consequences of flooding.
Meanwhile, Nguyen Dong Anh, Secretary of the Ho
Chi Minh Communist Youth Union Committee at the Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam,
pledged that young Vietnamese people will always respect the Vietnam-Laos
special relationship and do their utmost to maintain ties forever./.