VUFO President Nguyen Phuong Nga (R) presents the medal “For Peace and Friendship among Nations” to Lao Ambassador to Vietnam Thongsavanh Phomvihane.

Speaking at the ceremony, President of the VUFO Nguyen Phuong Nga said the medal aims to honour the Lao Ambassador’s remarkable contributions, over the past nearly four years, to promoting the friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between the two countries’ people.

During his tenure in Vietnam, the relations between Vietnam and Laos have been reinforced and developed. The two sides have successfully co-organised the Vietnam-Laos and Laos-Vietnam friendship and solidarity year 2017, Nga said.

The political ties have been strengthened through regular visits and exchanges between the two countries’ senior officials. She mentioned the recent visit to Laos by General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam and President Nguyen Phu Trong, saying it helped boost bilateral cooperation.

The bilateral cooperation has been furthered deepened in all fields from trade, economy, culture, education, defence, and security.

Particularly, the people-to-people exchanges have been promoted with numerous meaningful activities such as the organisation of the fourth Vietnam-Laos friendship festival in Laos, and the publication of a bilingual book titled “Chung day Truong Son” (Sharing Truong Son range).

The VUFO will continue collaborating with the Lao embassy on such efforts and further extend cooperation opportunities for both nations, she added.

For his part, Ambassador Thongsavanh Phomvihane expressed his pleasure to receive the noble award of the VUFO, and said during his tenure in Vietnam, he witnessed ties between the two countries’ ministries, agencies and localities have been expanded while links across politics, security, national defence, economy, trade, investment, culture, education, territorial border and consular works have progressed.

Phomvihane affirmed that the Lao Party, State and government always strive to reinforce bilateral special and long-standing friendship.

He said the VUFO and Vietnam – Laos Friendship Association always create favourable conditions for the embassy to fulfill its mission.

He also stated the embassy will continue working closely with the VUFO and Vietnam – Laos Friendship Association on monitoring and boosting the implementation of the two nations’ cooperation agreements.

The diplomat pledged that in any position, he will continue to work to reinforce and develop the friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between the two Parties, States and peoples upon returning home./.