PANO - At the latest reception given to the Vietnam National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung and his entourage in Laos, Professor Kykeokhay Khamphithu, Director of Lao Academy of National Administration-Politics, cited Lao former President Kaysone Phomvihane as saying that “if Mekong River does not turn dry into a sand-bank, majestic Truong Son mountain ranges do not become a grassland, wide Hong Ha River does not change into a uncultivated dune, Viet-Laos brotherhood will never be separated”.
The Vietnam NA senior official delegation, led by NA Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung, paid an official friendly visit to Laos during the quarter of the Moon. In Lao language, Vientiane means “Moon” and in fact, the moon in this capital, as we felt, is more beautiful than that in various cities in the world. Its beauty comes from a peace and holy atmosphere.
With a beaming face like full-moon light, Kutkich, a reporter from Phuthen Pasason Newspaper of Lao NA, enthusiastically took us around Vientiane. It was very interesting to contemplate this peaceful city under silvery moonlight spreading on the Mekong River.
Kutkich boasted that she was going to take part in a training course launched by Vietnam NA’s People’s Delegates Newspaper in Vietnam. Though being born in peacetime, Kutkich and those under her generation had many times been told about intimate and ardent sentiments between Lao troops and Vietnam volunteer troops in the fight for national liberation.
“Now, in peacetime, the image of Vietnam People’s Army remains close to Vientiane and people of Lao tribes via construction works, projects and specific products offered by Vietnam army enterprises, such as Viettel with its mobile phone network, Military Bank, and Truong Son Building Corporation. This is clear evidence of assistance from Vietnam in general, and Vietnam People’s Army in particular, in this period”, said Kutkich.
In addition to Kutkich, everyone we met in Vientiane expressed their warm feeling for Vietnam.
We can see a number of Vietnamese enterprises in Vientiane, including VietinBank, Viettel, Vietnam Rubber Industry Group, BIDV and MB. Attentively, investment from Vietnamese enterprises in Laos has seen fruitful.
Mr. Ta Minh Chau, Vietnamese Ambassador to Laos said that the two countries’ trade, investment and economic ties had been thriving in recent years. As well, Vietnamese enterprises pumped more investment into Laos. At present, Vietnam has had 424 projects in Laos, valued at US $3.57 billion, ranking second in investment in Laos.
Moreover, the two sides were checking the progress of investment activities and striving for practical efficiency and focused investment. Furthermore, the two sides were trying to reach their bilateral trade volume target of US $1billion in 2012 and US $2billion in 2015.
During talks with NA Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung, Lao Party, State and Government’s leaders confirmed that Lao Party, State and people of tribes always expressed their deep gratitude to Vietnam Party, State and people for their wholehearted help in the fight for national independence in the past and in the cause of national construction and development at present. They considered Vietnam’s achievements their achievements and affirmed to better the special friendship between Vietnam and Laos and to support Vietnamese enterprises in Laos.
The solidarity between Vietnam and Laos, which we witnessed during this recent visit of NA Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung to Laos, was very special. At banquets for Vietnamese guests, both the guest and the host were dancing hands in hands. Talking about this, Doctor Koukeo Akhamnontry, Chairman of External Affairs Committee under Lao NA confided that “it is because we are close brothers”.
During the visit, almost all Lao newspapers solemnly published portrait and biography of NA Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung and various articles highlighting the importance of the visit and praising the special friendship between Laos and Vietnam. For instance, Pasason Newspaper, the organ of Lao People’s Revolutionary Party posted NA Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung’s biography and a welcome editorial which hailed the visit in the context that Lao people were carrying out practical activities to celebrate big events in 2012 and the Laos-Vietnam and Vietnam-Laos Friendship-Solidarity Year. Other Lao newspaper, namely New Vientiane, Developing Laos, Lao Country and People’s Delegates also heightened Vietnam’s economic achievements and special solidarity and friendship between Laos and Vietnam.
The visit concludes, but the friendship-solidarity between Vietnam and Laos will last forever as late President Ho Chi Minh used to say that Vietnam-Laos’ sentiments are deeper than the Hong Ha and Cuu Long rivers.
