At the meeting (Source: vtv.vn)Hanoi (VNA) – The Youth Unions of Hanoi and Vientiane signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen bilateral cooperation and friendship between 2016 and 2020, in Hanoi on December 17.
Secretary of the Hanoi Youth Union Nguyen Van Thang welcomed Lao counterpart Bounta Thepphavong, head of the Lao delegation, to visit Vietnam in celebration of 50-year diplomatic ties between the two countries and the 35th anniversary of the signing of the Vietnam-Laos friendship treaty.
Thang said the Youth Unions of Hanoi and Vientiane sealed cooperation in 1997. After several years of hiatus, the two sides have resumed connection since 2007, conducting annual delegation exchanges and experience sharing and expanding more pragmatic collaboration contents.
The Hanoi Youth Union has raised over 1.5 billion VND (66,000 USD) to launch a number of voluntary campaigns in Vientiane’s districts since 2007.
Nearly 240 Vietnamese volunteers have joined charitable activities to provide free health check-ups and medicines to over 11,000 Vientiane locals, while visiting and presenting gifts to policy beneficiary families, transferring science-technology in husbandry and cultivation, and holding cultural exchanges with local people.
The Vietnamese union also launched a contest on the history of special relations between Vietnam and Laos as well as maintained exchanges, gift presentation, and Tet celebrations for Lao students in Hanoi.
Secretary of Lao Youth Union Bounta Thepphavong said the effective cooperation between the two capitals’ youngsters demonstrates their countries’ close-knit and time-honoured friendship,
With the hope of promoting the bilateral collaboration in 2016-2020, the two sides agreed to work together to conduct more voluntary activities and open youth training courses in Vientiane.
The pair will also create optimal conditions for young businesses to forge connectivity and cooperation across the fields.
During their visit to Vietnam, the Lao delegation is scheduled to visit the Ho Chi Minh President Mausoleum and a youth business model in Hanoi’s Dan Phuong district.-VNA
