Lao National Day marked in HCM City
(VOV) - The Vietnam Union of Friendship Organisations (VUFO) and the Vietnam-Laos Friendship Association held a get-together in Ho Chi Minh City on November 29 to celebrate Laos’ 37th National Day (December 2).
The event was attended by HCM City leaders, Vietnamese and Lao diplomats, Vietnamese volunteer soldiers in Laos, and a large number of Lao students living in HCM City.
The President of the Vietnam-Laos Friendship Association in HCM City, Phan Xuan Bien highlighted bilateral traditional friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation which have been nurtured and constantly developed by generations of leaders and peoples from both countries.
Lao Consul General in HCM City Southideth Phommalat thanked the Vietnamese Party, State and People for their valuable support to Laos’ past struggle for national independence, as well as to its current socio-economic development process.
He affirmed that over the past 37 years, the two countries’ relationship has stood the test of time and become a valuable asset serving as a decisive factor behind the revolutionary victory of each country.
He was delighted at bilateral fruitful relations in various fields, including economics, trade, culture, education, external affairs, and national security and defence.
Vietnam is one of Laos’ largest foreign investors, with a total investment of US$3.57 billion in 424 projects. Two-day trade turnover in the first three quarters of 2012 was estimated at US$700 million, and is expected to reach nearly US$1 billion by the end of this year.