Laos on the firm course of development and integration

A performance at the Vietnam - Laos border friendship exchange event in Quang Tri Province in 2019 (Photo: VOV)

It is a significant event marking 45 glorious years with proud achievements recorded by the Lao people in their cause of national defence, construction and development under the sound leadership of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party (LPRP). The event also opens a new bright chapter in Laos’s course of development, contributing to peace, stability and prosperity in the region and the world at large.

Covering an area of 236,800 square kilometres in Southeast Asia, Laos has a population of 6.9 million with 49 ethnic groups belonging to four language families.

Building on the heroic and indomitable tradition and under the effective leadership of the LPRP, the people of Laos rose up to overthrow the constitutional monarchy and establish the Lao People’s Democratic Republic on December 2, 1975.

It was a glorious milestone in Lao history, opening a new era for the land of frangipani flowers, an era of peace, independence, self-reliance, unification and prosperity.

On the occasion, the people of Vietnam express our delight at the significant achievements recorded by the Lao Party, State and people in the past 45 years in socio-economic development, national defence, security and external relations, despite facing numerous difficulties and challenges.

The political-security situation in Laos is broadly stable and social order is ensured. Currently, Party conventions at all levels towards to the National Party Congress have resumed after a temporary suspension to prevent the spread of Covid-19.

Economically, Laos is one of the fastest-growing economies in ASEAN, maintaining growth of 7% in recent years. In terms of foreign relations, Laos has diplomatic ties with 140 countries and more than 130 political parties in the world. Laos’s reputation and position in the region and the international stage have been continually enhanced.

As the Covid-19 pandemic remains complicated, Laos has taken many aggressive measures and achieved important results. In June 2020 Lao Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith declared a victory in the first phase of the fight against Covid-19.

Such achievements are expected to inspire Laos to continue building and developing its people’s democracy, laying the foundation for the path to socialism.

As two close-knit neighbouring countries which share water from the Mekong River and lean against the majestic Annamite Range, Vietnam and Laos possess a long-lasting special friendly relationship.

Such a relationship was established by President Ho Chi Minh, President Kaysone Phomvihane and President Souphanouvong, and was nurtured by generations of leaders and people of both countries, setting a prime example of a strong faithful bond between the two Parties and nations.

The two countries’ people walked side by side to the final victory in their revolutions. During the post-war period with challenges of economic reform and international integration, the special solidarity between Vietnam and Laos has always been fostered, becoming a valuable asset of both countries, an important source of strength to the cause of safeguarding national independence and building socialism in each country.

The Vietnamese people are always proud of the Lao people as a faithful neighbour to share hardships and blessings during the struggle for national independence and national construction and development.

Vietnam and Laos formally established diplomatic relations in 1962 and signed a treaty of amity and cooperation in 1977. They are significant milestones in the development history of the great friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and Laos.

Despite complexities and uncertainties in regional and international situations, the special solidarity is still growing in both breadth and depth, as evidenced by the close cooperation between the two Parties, States and peoples.

The leaders and people of Laos are genuinely grateful to Vietnam for its assistance in terms of both supplies and experience in the fight against Covid-19, although Vietnam was also facing difficulties in containing the virus. Laos leaders also extended their sympathy to Vietnamese leaders over serious flooding in central Vietnam.

We firmly believe that under the sound leadership of the LDRP, the people of Laos will continue to record glorious victories in the cause of national defence and construction.

The Vietnamese Party, State and people will work with their Lao counterparts to continue safeguarding and nurturing the great friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between the two countries, elevating the bilateral relationship to new heights, thus contributing to peace, solidarity, stability, cooperation and development in the region and the world at large.

Source: NDO