Hanoi (VNA) – Collectives and individuals of the Vietnamese Ministry of Public Security were honoured with prestigious orders from Laos and Cuba at a ceremony held in Hanoi on August 16.
The event took place on the occasion of the 80th anniversary of the National Day (September 2), the 80th Traditional Day of the Vietnam People's Public Security force (August 19), and the 20th anniversary of the All-People Security Safeguard Festival (August 19).
Over the past eight decades, under the clear-sighted leadership of the Communist Party of Vietnam and support from the people from all walks of life, the People's Public Security force has not only excelled in its domestic political missions but also expanded diplomatic relations and cooperation with security, police, and interior forces worldwide, including those of Laos and Cuba.
At the ceremony, General Vilay Lakhamphong, Politburo member, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Public Security of Laos, presented the Vietnamese ministry with the first-class Issara (Freedom) Order.
He also conferred the first-class Freedom Order on Politburo member and Minister of Public Security General Luong Tam Quang. The second-class Freedom Order was presented to Politburo member, Secretary of the Party Central Committee, and Chairman of the committee's Inspection Commission Nguyen Duy Ngoc, who is former Deputy Minister of Public Security; along with Deputy Ministers Senior Lieutenant Generals Tran Quoc To and Le Quoc Hung.
The third-class decorations were bestowed upon five other Deputy Ministers. Senior Lieutenant General To An Xo, who is Assistant to the Party General Secretary and in charge of the General Secretary’s Office, was honoured with the first-class Labour Order of Laos.
Major General Lazaro Alberto Alvarez Casas, Politburo member and Minister of the Interior of Cuba, conferred Cuba’s first-class Order of June 6 on Minister Luong Tam Quang, and the first-class “Eliseo Reyes” Order on several Vietnamese deputy ministers.
The Lao and Cuban officials praised the Vietnamese People’s Public Security force for its significant contributions to the friendship and cooperation with Laos’ Ministry of Public Security and Cuba’s Ministry of the Interior. They expressed hope for closer collaboration in the future to safeguard national security and further cement Vietnam's time-honoured bonds with Laos and Cuba.
Minister Quang, for his part, thanked Laos and Cuba for bestowing such distinguished honours at a historic moment – the 80th anniversary of Vietnam’s public security force. He affirmed that the decorations reflect their Parties and States' recognition of the Vietnamese force’s contributions to the great friendship, special solidarity, and comprehensive cooperation with Laos, as well as the long-standing special ties with Cuba.
Pledging the force's utmost dedications to deserve the noble rewards, he expressed his hope for further support from the Lao and Cuban ministries in protecting the national security and maintaining social order and safety in each country, thereby contributing to stability and peace in the regions and the whole world./.
