Politburo member, Deputy Prime Minister, and Chairman of the Lao Central Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control, Mr. Kikeo Khaykhamphithoune (R) presents letters of thanks from the Lao Party, State and people to the Party and State and people of Vietnam for always standing with Laos in the fight against the pandemic. (Photo: VNA)
According to Mr. Saykhong, in 2021, the international and regional situation reported many rapid and unpredictable changes. Even as the outbreak and spread of COVID-19 in the community has greatly affected cooperation between the two countries, the leaders of the two Parties and States still regularly talked by phone to visit each other and sent delegations to visit each other. In addition, Vietnam also supported and helped with medical equipment and sent a delegation of medical experts to help Laos prevent the COVID-19 pandemic, which showed its concern, affection and spirit of brotherhood and comradeship.
Not only supporting Laos, during the recent COVID-19 outbreak, Vietnam is one of the countries that has actively donated medical equipment to many countries around the world to help prevent and limit the spread of the virus, while Vietnam itself is struggling to fight back the disease in the country. “This not only shows Vietnam's foreign policy of opening, diversifying, multilateralizing, and making friends with all countries, but also of contributing to bringing new opportunities to Vietnam's great success in foreign affairs, especially success in vaccine diplomacy over the past time,” said Mr. Saykhong.
As for Laos, Vietnam is the first country to send a special flight carrying medical equipment and experts to help prevent and control the pandemic during the second outbreak in Laos in early 2021. In addition, the Ministries and organizations from central to local levels of Vietnam have mobilized millions of USD and medical equipment to support Laos. In particular, the Vietnam - Laos Friendship Association and the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations donated a total of over VND605 million and 225,000 medical masks to the Lao Embassy in Vietnam to help Lao people.
In addition, the provinces of Laos have also received a lot of support and help from Vietnamese provinces. The above gestures of the Party, Government and people of Vietnam not only actively contributed to disease control in Laos, but also created a far-reaching movement of all organizations and people between the two countries in actively participating in mutual support in the fight against COVID-19, and at the same time deepening the relationship between the people of the two countries. Although it was also very difficult, the Lao side also mobilized USD1.2 million to support Vietnam to fight the pandemic.
Mr. Saykhong highlighted Vietnam's achievements in responding to the spread of COVID-19 over the past time, considering Vietnam a model in disease prevention and control.
Highlighting the friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between the two countries, he said that the exchanges between the two sides showed the foreign policies of the two countries which pay attention to preserving and developing the great friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between Laos and Vietnam; contributing to strengthening relations between the two Parties and the two countries in the new period.
He added he hoped that in the coming time, the two countries will continue to coordinate, exchange and help each other to achieve new and greater results, on the basis of socio-economic development and external relations, promoting the expansion of cooperation in many fields such as the Vientiane - Hanoi highway project; Khammouan - Vung Ang railway project; continuing to soon deploy and put into use Vung Ang 1-2-3 port to create favorable conditions for sea freight transport for Laos and promote favorable conditions for human resource development for Laos and the economic development of Laos, as well as the comprehensive development of relations between the two countries.
Noting that 2022 will be a year of special significance in the special relationship between the two brothers Laos – Vietnam with the 45th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation between Laos and Vietnam (July 18) and the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Laos and Vietnam (September 5), both countries will conduct national celebration activities./.