This is the curtain raising event to mark the Vietnam – Laos Solidarity and Friendship Year 2012 and confirms the unswerving policy of Vietnam to treasure and bring bilateral relations to a new height.

Bilateral relations have been continuously promoted in various fields through the exchange of reciprocal visits by the two countries’ top leaders. Worthy of note were last year’s visits to Vietnam by President Chummaly Sayasone, Prime Minister Thongsinh Thammavong, and National Assembly Chairperson Pany Yathotu, and visits to Laos by Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung. They have reinforced trust and bonds between the two nations.

Phankham Viphavan, President of the Laos – Vietnam Friendship Association, says such special relations are found nowhere else in the world.

“Our leaders have paid special care to improving the younger generation’s understanding of the two nations’ traditional relations,” says Viphavan. “The project on the traditional Vietnam-Laos relations has contributed practically to enhancing the awareness of the two countries’ peoples on their loyal and close ties."

2012 is observed as the Vietnam – Laos Solidarity and Friendship Year, which also marks the 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties and 35 years of the Vietnam – Laos Friendship and Cooperation Treaty.

Vietnam has established a national steering committee on the Vietnam – Laos Solidarity and Friendship Year with various activities to be held nationwide. Vu Xuan Hong, Chairman of the Union of Vietnam Friendship Organizations, says the two Friendship Organizations should actively prepare for the celebration, and every people should promote their responsibility to preserve and develop the Vietnam – Laos relations. 

Both countries have strived to raise two-way trade revenue from US$700 million last year to US$1 billion this year and US$2 billion by 2015. Vietnam will accelerate investment projects in Laos, focusing on banking, finance, and rubber plantation, contributing to social security and poverty reduction in Laos.

They are determined to complete the building of border markers along the borderline by 2014, and ensure the construction progress of the 2E transnational road to serve the operation of the Vung Ang seaport in Vietnam. The project to improve the quality and efficiency of education and human resources development cooperation until 2020 has been signed to send students to each country.

President Truong Tan Sang’s visit to Laos marks the start of a series of activities to be launched in the Vietnam – Lao Solidarity and Friendship Year. He is scheduled to hold talks and meet with senior Lao leaders to strengthen cooperation in politics, national security, external affairs, trade, investment, education and culture.

President Sang will also attend the inauguration of the Vietinbank branch, and the ground breaking ceremony of the Confederation of the Vietnamese Community in Laos, and visit some facilities built by the Hoang Anh Gia Lai Group.

The visit will further enhance the traditional and loyal relations between both nations, and confirm Vietnam’s consistent policy of treasuring the special solidarity and friendship with Laos.