Ambassador Nguyen Ba Hung speaking at the event (Photo: VNA)
The event was participated in by officials and staff of the embassy and representative agencies of Vietnam in Laos, representatives of Vietnamese businesses in Laos, overseas Vietnamese in Laos and representatives of overseas Vietnamese people in Thailand’s Nongkhai and Udon Thani provinces.
Speaking at the event, Ambassador Nguyen Ba Hung said that in 2018, Vietnam gained impressive achievements in the fields of politics, socio-economic development and national defence and security.
Vietnam’s foreign relations continued to be promoted and achieved good results. Vietnam's role and position continue to be enhanced in the international arena, opening up many opportunities for cooperation for the country; people's lives continued to be improved; security and national defense are maintained and Vietnam’s sovereignty over the sea and islands continue to be firmly protected, its peaceful environment continues to be maintained for stable development.
According to the ambassador, in 2018, a year of Vietnam - Laos friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation continues to develop, upholding the potential and strength of each country, and bringing great practical effectiveness and benefits.
The two-way trade revenue reached more than USD1 billion, an increase of 14% compared to 2017.
He stressed that the Vietnamese community in Laos had its revolutionary tradition and always maintained solidarity and mutual support. They have established a stable and developed daily life, are well integrated into local society and made practical contributions to the local country and relations between the two countries.
The overseas Vietnamese community in Laos has also organized various charitable activities to support calamity victims in both countries.
Mr. Hung desired that overseas Vietnamese continue to make more contributions to the homeland and Vietnam - Laos relations. He also affirmed that the embassy and representative agencies of Vietnam in Laos will continue to support the overseas Vietnamese to build a united and strong community, which always looks toward the homeland./.