Vientiane (VNA) – Former Lao Ambassador to Vietnam Vilayvanh Phomkhe has shared that the teachings by Khamtay Siphandone, former President of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party (LPRP), former State President and former Prime Minister of Laos, to diplomats, especially those working at the Lao Embassy in Vietnam, are always treasured in their minds.
Talking to Vietnam News Agency correspondents in Laos, Vilayvanh, who used to serve as Lao Ambassador to Vietnam for two terms, Minister of Agriculture and Forestry, as well as Party Secretary and Governor of Savanakhet province, cited Khamtay Siphandone as telling the embassy staff that an important task for all officials and staff members of the embassy is to ensure that Vietnam understands Laos and Laos understands Vietnam, and that they must preserve the special Laos – Vietnam relationship as the best forever.
Recalling the deceased's teachings, Vilayvanh Phomkhe said President Khamtay Siphandone had paid many visits to Vietnam, and all the trips reflected the heartfelt friendship and fraternity like those between brothers in a family. Each visit to Vietnam was a reunion where the President and high-ranking Vietnamese leaders shared memories about the joint struggle against the common enemy.
Vilayvanh emphasised that after peace was restored, each official visit to Vietnam by President Khamtay Siphandone was an occasion for the leaders of both countries to look back on the arduous yet glorious days of fighting side by side, ready to sacrifice for the sake of each country's independence. Therefore, whenever concluding a visit, the President always visited the Lao Embassy and reminded them that every cadre and employee of the embassy in Vietnam must always pay attention to the special Laos – Vietnam bilateral relationship. They were urged to keep seeking ways to preserve and develop the special ties and also learn from Vietnam's development experiences in all fields to apply in Laos to help with the homeland's development.
President Khamtay Siphandone said as Vietnam still faced many difficulties but never refused to assist Laos, Laos itself must learn Vietnam’s experiences and develop by itself so that both countries could move forward together.
According to Vilayvanh, during his visits to Vietnam, the President always engaged sincerely and candidly with high-ranking Vietnamese leaders to find the best and most effective cooperation directions, thereby ensuring the special Laos – Vietnam relationship continues to thrive.
Vilayvanh noted that as he had served as the Lao Ambassador to Vietnam for six years, he could see that all generations of Vietnamese leaders were consistently sincere in maintaining the special bilateral ties and preoccupied by how to help the relationship remain as strong as that between brothers in a family.
The former diplomat said President Khamtay Siphandone were always concerned about the training of succeeding leaders to ensure his successors would uphold and develop the special relationship between the two countries in order to bring about prosperity and well-being to the people of both nations.
Vilayvanh added the President usually reminded Lao diplomats to remember Vietnamese President Ho Chi Minh's teachings that diplomacy means doing everything to ensure that two sides understand each other.
Besides, Khamtay Siphandone also valued the special relationship in military and national defence – security. He emphasised the importance of learning from Vietnam’s experiences in economy and military, and insisted on actively seeking knowledge and understanding.
When Vietnamese volunteer soldiers and military experts came to Laos to help with the country's struggle for independence and freedom, the President also gave direct instructions to ensure that soldiers of the two armies fought side by side, understood and supported each other, and shared both hardships and joys, according to Vilayvanh./.
Vietnamese representatives abroad pay tribute to Lao leader Khamtay Siphandone
The Party, State, and people of Vietnam have lost a great friend and a close comrade, whose important contributions greatly strengthened the special relationship between Vietnam and Laos, said Ambassador Phan Manh Dung, head of the Permanent Mission of Vietnam in Geneva.
