(VNF) - A ceremony was held in Hai Duong province on October 22^nd to present Lao orders and medals to Vietnamese volunteer soldiers and military experts who performed international missions in Laos during 1945-1975.

The ceremony was attended by Laos' Ambassador to Vietnam Thongsavanh Phomvihane; Head of the Asia – Africa Department under the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organization (VUFO) Nguyen Van My; representatives of the Vietnam – Laos Friendship Association (VLFA), Liaison Board for the Association of Former Vietnamese Volunteer Soldiers and Experts in Laos; member of the Central Party Committee, Secretary of Hai Duong Party Committee cum Chairman of provincial People’s Council, Nguyen Manh Hien and members of the Vietnam – Laos Friendship Association of Hai Duong province.

Speaking at the event, Laos' Ambassador Thongsavanh Phomvihane thanked Vietnam’s Party, State, Government, National Assembly and Vietnamese soldiers and military experts for supporting Lao people in the hardship time in the past.

In order to acknowledge achievements, feat of arms and heroic sacrifice of former Vietnamese voluntary soldiers and military experts who helped Laos during the war, President and Prime Minister of the Lao People's Democratic Republic determined to award medals for 430 Vietnamese former voluntary soldiers and military experts in the province.

Laos' Ambassador Thongsavanh Phomvihane (R) granted Orders and Medals to Vietnamese former voluntary soldiers and experts in Hai Duong province.

Authorised by the President of Laos, Laos' Ambassador Thongsavanh Phomvihane granted Freedom Order to one comrade and 34 Hai Duong martyrs, 71 Victory Orders, 16 anti-French resistance medals and 308 anti-American resistance medals to former voluntary soldiers and military experts.

The Ambassador pointed out that Vietnam and Laos are two intimate neighboring countries with adjoining mountains and rivers; people of both countries inherently have a long-standing traditional relationship which tends to be more and more developed. On September 5^th 1962, the two countries officially established the diplomatic relations.

Through more than half-century of cooperation, the friendship between the two Parties, Governments and people of Vietnam and Laos has always been cared by generations of leaders of both countries toward a more and more development in depth in fields of comprehensive cooperation in politics, economic, culture, education and training, etc…

Vice Chairman of provincial People Committee Luong Van Cau warmly welcomed the delegators attend the ceremony, saying Hai Duong was one of the localities that made remarkable contributions to the cause of national liberation and international missions in Laos.

This order and medal presentation illustrates the faithful relations and special solidarity between Vietnam and Laos as well as shows gratefulness to volunteer soldiers and military experts for their sacrifice and great contributions to the national liberation, defence and construction of Laos, he added.

Vietnamese former voluntary soldiers and experts in Hai Duong province receceived Laos Orders and Medals.

On behalf of Vietnamese former voluntary soldiers and experts in Hai Duong province, Deputy Head of Liaison Board for the Association of Former Vietnamese Volunteer Soldiers and Experts in Laos Dao Hang expressed his great gratitude to Laos Party, State and Government for acknowledging achievements and heroic sacrifice of former Vietnamese voluntary soldiers and military experts who helped Laos during the war./.

Minh Phuong