The General Vietnamese Association in Laos convened its 2nd congress in Vientiane on July 27.

The event was attended by Vice Chairman of the Centre Committee of the Lao Front for National Construction (LFNC) Chanthavong Sengamatmonty, Vietnamese Deputy Foreign Minister and Head of the State Committee on Overseas Vietnamese Affairs (COVA) Vu Hong Nam, and representatives from the Vietnamese Embassy, Consulate Generals and the Vietnamese Association in Laos.

Established in 2009, the General Association has 12 chapters in provinces and cities across Laos. It coordinates with the embassy to organise cultural, education and sports activities, significantly contributing to connecting the community and preserving Vietnam’s cultural characteristics.

In his speech at the event, Vietnamese Deputy Foreign Minister Vu Hong Nam hailed the organisation’s recent achievements and affirmed that its executive board plays a central role in the community.

He hoped the association’s new executive board would successfully implement the set targets and its chapters would intensify and renew their activities, thus strengthening the association and enhancing solidarity within the Vietnamese community in Laos.

In his interview granted to Vietnam News Agency correspondents in Laos, LFNC Vice Chairman Chanthavong Sengamatmonty spoke highly of the prominent attainments reaped by the General Association in the last tenure, especially in promoting solidarity among overseas Vietnamese in Laos and strengthening the Vietnam-Laos friendship and special solidarity.

He affirmed that his agency will continue to work closely with the General Association.

At the event, the congress elected a new 23-member executive board and adopted the congress’s resolution and the action plan of the General Association for the 2015-2019 tenure.

On the occasion, Deputy Minister Vu Hong Nam and Ambassador Nguyen Manh Hung presented certificates of merit of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the COVA to a number of organisations and individuals in recognition of their contributions to the community.-VNA