The outgoing Lao Ambassador to Vietnam, Sunthon Saynhachac, has been awarded an insignia “For the Cause of Vietnam’s Diplomacy”.

Vietnamese Minister of Foreign Affairs Pham Binh Minh handed over the distinction to the ambassador at a ceremony held in the capital city of Hanoi on August 8.

Minh spoke highly of Sunthon Saynhachac’s valuable contributions to consolidating and strengthening the friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and Laos .

During her four-year term of office in Vietnam , the diplomat contributed greatly to cooperative relations between the two Ministries of Foreign Affairs as well as to developing Vietnam ’s diplomatic service, he added.

Ambassador Sunthon Saynhachac said the Laos - Vietnam friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation have been consolidated and developed in recent years, despite adverse impacts resulting from the world economic crisis.

In terms of foreign affairs, Laos and Vietnam have closely coordinated at regional and international forums, and reaped encouraging results, the ambassador noted./.