The Vietnam General Confederation of Labour (VGCL) President, Dang Ngoc Tung, has been presented with the Labour Order, First Class, by the Lao State.

His five deputies and two other senior officials of the organisation were awarded the Second Class of the Labour Order, all for their contributions to trade union development in Laos.

The award presentation was held recently in Hanoi, on the occasion of a visit to Vietnam from February 23-28 by a delegation of the Lao Federation of Trade Unions (LFTU), led by its President Khamla Lolonsy.

During their stay, the Lao guests held talks with the host delegation led by its President, Dang Ngoc Tung, who pledged to uphold the special relations between the two union organisations.

“Trade union organisations of the two countries have been following teachings of Vietnam’s first President Ho Chi Minh and Lao’s first President Kayson Phomvihane in cultivating friendship between the two countries,” said the VGCL leader. He quoted President Ho as saying on the relations that “Vietnam-Laos relations are as deep as waters of the Red and Mekong rivers”.

In response, Khamla Lolonsy expressed thanks to Vietnamese unionists for their assistance in personnel training for Lao unionists through short-term and long-term courses, curricular supply for several vocational colleges, construction of trade union colleges and labour safety measures.

The Lao trade union leader called for further exchange of visits between the two union organisations in order to boost relations and share experiences between unionists from the two countries.

He also looked for stronger international cooperation and Vietnam’s assistance in personnel training for Lao’s unionists./.