A series of activities to celebrate the 35 th National Day of Laos and the 450 th birthday of Vientiane capital took place in central Quang Nam province on Nov. 29.

The activities were held by the Lao Consulate General in central Da Nang city, the Quang Nam provincial Union of Friendship Organizations and the liaison committee for Vietnamese former volunteer soldiers in Laos.

In the afternoon of the same day, Vansa Launhiada, Lao Consul General in Da Nang along with representatives of sectors and mass organisations of Quang Nam province, offered incense at the provincial martyrs’ cemetery to commemorate the two countries’ heroic martyrs who sacrificed their lives for national liberation.

Following the ceremony, the delegation went to the Laos Lower resistance zone in the war against the French colonialists in Tam Vinh commune, now known as Phu Thinh town, Phu Ninh district, Quang Nam province.

During the stay, Launhida expressed his appreciation for the precious support of Vietnam in the new period, including projects of strategic importance for the socio-economic development of the country.

He said that the Lao people always keep in mind beautiful images of Vietnam-Laos’ fighting alliance in the struggle for national independence as well as national construction and defence at present.

The Lao economy enjoyed a stable GDP growth at 7.1 percent during 2009-2010, an income per capita of 1,000 USD per year, a reducing rate of poor households to 21.6 percent and the country has established diplomatic ties with 130 countries around the world.

On this occasion, 15 scholarships and 20 bicycles were presented to poor and outstanding students in Phu Ninh district.

Also on the same day, Lao students from Nursing University and Luong The Vinh University in the northern province of Nam Dinh attended a get-together in the province. They are attending courses in economics, information technology and nursing under an education cooperation programme between the provinces of Nam Dinh and Laos’ Udomsay.

The Lao economy enjoyed a stable GDP growth at 7.1 percent during 2009-2010, a per capita income of 1,000 USD per year and a poor households rate of 21.6 percent. The country has established diplomatic ties with 130 countries around the world./.