A meeting to mark the Vietnam-Laos traditional combat alliance was held in Sepon district, Savannakhet province, Laos on December 12.

Prominent figures at the event, which is part of the Vietnam-Laos 2012 Friendship Year, included leaders and former leaders from the two countries’ Parties and States, and representatives from ministries, agencies and Savannakhet province.

Addressing the event, Bounhang Vorachit, Vice State President and Head of the National “Laos-Vietnam Friendship Year” Steering Committee, stressed that the friendship year between the two countries has become an important socio-political event in 2012.

It helps educate and train Laos ’ carders, Party members and people, especially the younger generation, to have a deeper awareness of the tradition, importance and the need to further consolidate the special friendship, solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between Laos and Vietnam , he added.

The Lao People’s Revolutionary Party (LPRP), State and people will continue to protect the special friendship and solidarity fostered by generations of Vietnamese and Lao heroes, soldiers and people. It will be everlasting for the future generations, said Vorachit, who is also Politburo member and permanent member of the LPRP’s Central Committee Secretariat.

For his part, Le Hong Anh, politburo member and permanent member of the Communist Party of Vietnam’s Central Committee Secretariat, affirmed that Vietnam and Laos are two close neighbouring countries, the peoples of which have a long-lasting traditional friendship.

Following the two countries’ complete liberation in 1975, Vietnam-Laos relations turned into a new historical page – from an alliance of combat to comprehensive cooperation between two independent and sovereign countries, said Anh, who is also Head of the National “Vietnam-Laos Friendship Year” Steering Committee.

Despite regional and global developments, the Vietnam-Laos traditional friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation - founded by President Ho Chi Minh, President Kayson Phomvihane and President Souphanouvong, and nourished by Party and State leaders of the two countries – have continually strengthened in all fields with diverse forms of cooperation, he added.

The Vietnamese Party, State and people are happy to see that under the leadership of LPRP, the Lao people have overcome difficulties and challenges to reap fruitful achievements in politics, economics, culture, security, defence and external relations over the years, especially the implementation of the ninth Party Congress Resolution, Anh said.

At the meeting, Vietnam and Laos historical witnesses recalled memories of their alliance to combat common invaders for national liberation and unification.

The Vietnam-Laos friendship and special solidarity was an important factor in the two countries’ fight for national liberation as well as the cause of national building and development, they said.-VNA