Laos honours Vietnamese voluntary soldiers, experts hinh anh 1The Lao government gives orders and medals toVietnamese Voluntary soldiers. (Source: VNA)

Ha Tinh (VNA) – Laos has conferred orders and medals to 358 Vietnamese former voluntary officers and experts for their services in Laos’ national liberation cause.

A ceremony was held in the central province of Ha Tinh on November 2 to present the awards.

Speaking at the ceremony, Laos’ Ambassador to Vietnam Thongsavanh Phomvihan praised the faithful friendship between the two countries and stressed that the Party, State and people of Laos will never forget the assistance of Vietnamese voluntary soldiers.

The Ambassador said he believes that former Vietnamese soldiers will continue to contribute to the Vietnam-Laos relationship.

In 1945, the Vietnamese and Lao governments signed an agreement on the Vietnam-Laos cooperation and support and formed the Laos-Vietnam joint army to protect each country’s independence.

On October 30, 1949, the Politburo of the Communist Party of Vietnam’s Central Committee established the Vietnamese military force in Laos, which was called “Vietnamese voluntary soldiers”.

Ha Tinh province has more than 10,000 people who volunteered to help Laos in the fight for national independence. Of the voluntary soldiers and experts, over 1,000 died and 5,000 were injured during their mission in Laos.-VNA

VNA