The Vietnam–Laos and Laos–Vietnam Friendship Associations will hold a host of activities this year to educate young generations about the special friendship and comprehensive cooperation between the two nations.

The plan was reached by President of the Vietnam–Laos Friendship Association (VLFA) Vu Trong Kim and Vice President of the Central Committee of the Laos–Vietnam Friendship Association (LVFA) Central Committee Vilayvong Bouddakham during a meeting in Hanoi on January 13.

Both sides will hold events commemorating the 125th birthday of the late President Ho Chi Minh, including trips to relic sites dedicated to him in the Lao provinces of Khammouane and Savannakhet.

The year of 2015 also marks the 40th founding anniversary of the two associations, a chance for them to recall their past history of development.

Kim, who is also Vice President and Secretary General of the Vietnam Fatherland Front (VFF) Central Committee, informed his guest of the VLFA’s activities last year.

Bouddakham, First Secretary of the Central Committee of Lao People’s Revolutionary Youth Union, highly valued Vietnam’s assistance and investment in Laos, contributing to the country’s socio-economic development.

He said that two-way trade neared 1.58 billion USD last year, up 34.5 percent year-on-year.

Currently, nearly 8,000 Lao students are pursuing studies in Vietnam, he added.-VNA