Forty-seven years ago, on July 18, 1977, Vietnam and the Lao People's Democratic Republic officially signed the Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation; this was an important foundation, opening a new era of development for relations between the two countries in general and between Son La province and the provinces of Laos in particular, becoming increasingly close, substantive, and effective.
Meeting to exchange experiences on Party building and organization work between the Organization Department of the Son La Provincial Party Committee and the Organization Department of Hua Phan Province (Lao People's Democratic Republic).
Upholding the tradition of special solidarity and friendship.
Vietnam and Laos are close neighbors, sharing mountains and rivers. The people of the two countries have a long-standing and ever-growing tradition of friendship. The Vietnamese and Lao peoples have shared joys and sorrows, building a traditional friendship, special solidarity, and comprehensive cooperation, which has become an invaluable common asset and a crucial factor ensuring the success of each country's revolution. Our beloved President Ho Chi Minh affirmed: "Vietnam and Laos, our two countries, have a friendship deeper than the Red River and the Mekong River." President Souphanouvong praised this international relationship as "Higher than mountains, longer than rivers, wider than the sea, more beautiful than the full moon, and more fragrant than any flower."
Having overcome numerous challenges, sacrifices, and hardships for the independence, freedom, and happiness of the two nations and their peoples, the Vietnam-Laos relationship has become a symbol of the miraculous strength that has led to the great victories of the Vietnamese and Lao people in their national liberation struggles, and in building and defending their respective countries.
During the national liberation struggle, even when the Lao revolution was still facing difficulties, some villages in the border area of Son La province directly assisted and sheltered Lao cadres, including Comrade Kaysone Phomvihane - the leader of the Lao ethnic groups, who had been involved in revolutionary activities in Lao Kho village, Phieng Khoai commune, Yen Chau district during the years 1948-1951.
Here, Comrade Kaysone Phomvihane and the Northern Lao Vanguard established revolutionary bases, built up forces, and established resistance bases in Hua Phan province and other northern Lao provinces, making a significant contribution to the victory of the Lao revolution. Thousands of young people from Son La province enthusiastically enlisted, volunteered, and fought side-by-side with Pathet Lao soldiers and the people of various Lao ethnic groups on battlefields throughout the northern provinces of Laos until the day of complete victory.
People from Son La province (Vietnam) and Hua Phan province (Lao People's Democratic Republic) visit the Vietnam-Lao Revolutionary Historical Site in Lao Kho village, Phieng Khoai commune, Yen Chau district.
The special friendship and comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and Laos have been increasingly strengthened through the signing of important documents. On September 5, 1962, the two countries officially established diplomatic relations; on July 18, 1977, Vietnam and Laos signed the Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation, creating a solid legal basis for strengthening and expanding the special relationship and serving as the foundation for the two sides to sign a series of cooperation agreements later on.
Sharing a border with the Lao People's Democratic Republic, Son La province is not only geographically close but also shares many similarities in natural and social conditions with the provinces of its neighbor, creating favorable conditions for both sides to strengthen friendly relations and comprehensive cooperation.
Comprehensive cooperation across all fields.
Currently, Son La province has friendly relations and comprehensive cooperation agreements with 9 out of 18 provinces of Laos, including: Hua Phan, Luang Prabang, Oudomxay, Bokeo, Luang Namtha, Phongsaly, Xieng Khouang, Xay Nha Bu Ly, and Say Xom Bun.
Mr. Nguyen Van Chien, Director of the Department of Foreign Affairs, said: Besides regularly disseminating information and educating officials, Party members, armed forces, and the people about the special tradition of solidarity and friendship, and the comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and Laos, Son La province proactively assists in socio-economic development and coordinates with neighboring provinces to protect and build a peaceful and friendly border. Every year, the province organizes high-level delegations to visit and work with neighboring provinces in Laos; welcomes delegations of officials and people from neighboring provinces to visit, work, and exchange experiences in various fields; and organizes the signing of agreements with relevant sectors and localities.
Representatives from the People's Councils of Bokeo, Phongsaly, and Oudomxay provinces (Lao People's Democratic Republic) visited a mango model farm in Mai Son district.
The special relationship between Son La and the northern provinces of Laos is characterized by numerous important and comprehensive cooperation programs across all fields. A prime example is Son La province allocating hundreds of billions of dong from its budget to help the northern provinces of Laos build infrastructure, such as: office buildings; cultural centers; television broadcasting stations; substations and power grids; schools, classrooms, vocational training facilities, dormitories, brick factories; hospitals, clinics, etc. Some typical aid projects include: the Political and Administrative School of Luang Prabang province; the television broadcasting station of Hua Phan province; the Phongsaly ethnic boarding school; the substation and power grid supplying electricity to the Phieng Sa area (Xieng Kho - Hua Phan); the repair and upgrading of the Muong Et ferry terminal; the Political and Administrative School of Udomxay province; and the office of the Military Command of Vieng Kham district (Luang Prabang). The Phongsaly Provincial Vocational School, the Xay Nha Bu Ly Provincial Cultural Center; the Bokeo Provincial Fish and Plant Seed Center; the construction of the auditorium for the Luang Namtha Provincial Ethnic Boarding School; the construction of a school in Xay Nha Bu Ly district…
In the economic field, the management of border trade between Son La province and neighboring Lao provinces is always carried out in accordance with regulations. Preferential policies under the Border Trade Agreement are widely implemented for businesses and border residents in the area. Son La province and the northern provinces of Laos maintain regular contact, exchange information, and closely coordinate to implement cooperation programs for agricultural and rural development. At the same time, Son La province facilitates businesses in accessing information, producing and supplying plant and animal breeds, and establishing cooperative links in production and business with businesses in neighboring Lao provinces. Annually, the value of import and export goods between Son La province and neighboring Lao provinces is nearly 1 million USD; exports mainly consist of agricultural products, construction materials, consumer goods, animal feed, and fertilizers; imports mainly consist of equipment for production and business.
The Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Son La province and the Department of Agriculture and Forestry of Hua Phan province signed a Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation in forest protection, development, and forest fire prevention and control.
Mr. Ha Nhu Hue, Director of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, shared: The Department has organized working groups to visit neighboring provinces in Laos to share experiences and production techniques; coordinated with the Departments of Agriculture and Forestry of neighboring provinces to survey climate and soil conditions, and supported the implementation of suitable fruit tree and livestock development models. From 2020 to the present, the Son La Department of Agriculture and Rural Development has supported farmers in Hua Phan, Luang Prabang, and Luang Namtha provinces with 17,900 fruit tree seedlings; implemented 70 hectares of mango, longan, orange, and pomelo cultivation models. At the same time, it organized meetings to evaluate the coordination of forest protection, development, and fire prevention in border areas; and signed memoranda of cooperation.
In the field of culture and education, Son La province has strengthened its efforts to receive and train human resources from neighboring Lao provinces. Since 2015 alone, over 3,000 Lao students have been accepted for study. Of these, more than 2,000 have completed their training programs and returned to their country to work. Currently, nearly 1,000 Lao students are studying at Northwest University, Son La College, and Son La Medical College. In addition, over 600 people have completed Vietnamese language training programs for government officials and have returned to work in their country. An assessment of the results of cooperation in human resource training with the northern provinces of Laos shows that many Lao students, after graduating and returning to their country, have held important and key positions in state agencies, contributing significantly to the construction and development of the Lao People's Democratic Republic. Furthermore, Son La province is currently developing a project titled "Training in Intermediate Political Theory for Cadres from Northern Lao Provinces," which includes 9 months of Vietnamese language training followed by 6 months of intermediate political theory training. The training and study costs will be covered by Son La province.
Activities such as visits, working sessions, signing cooperation agreements on culture; celebrating the traditional Lunar New Year; and cultural exchanges between various levels and sectors of Son La province and neighboring provinces of Laos take place regularly. Successful coordination has been achieved in organizing events such as the "Son La - Hua Phan Cultural Tourism Festival" and the "Son La - Luang Prabang Tourism Development Linkage"; and surveys, assessments, and connections have been made to tourism routes from Hanoi – Moc Chau (Son La) – Hua Phan... Through these activities, people from both countries can visit, experience, and explore the beauty of the landscape, culture, and people of each locality, thereby building attractive tour programs and promoting tourism development.
Delegates from Son La province and Lao students perform the wrist-tying ritual.
Cooperation in the healthcare sector continues to receive attention. Every year, provinces in northern Laos send students to study specialized fields at Son La Medical College. In particular, after being upgraded to Son La Medical College, the number of students studying there has increased. From 2010 to the present, the school has trained over 2,000 Lao students in three main fields: pharmacy, nursing, and midwifery. Furthermore, Son La province always facilitates access to free medical examinations, treatment, and medication for the people of Laos at district-level hospitals and border health stations; and maintains the exchange and sharing of information on disease outbreaks. Notably, during the peak of the Covid-19 pandemic, Son La province donated medical supplies to nine provinces of Laos worth over 3 billion VND. Departments, agencies, bordering districts, and sister districts have provided support to localities in Laos in the prevention and control of the Covid-19 epidemic, with a total budget of nearly 1 billion VND...
The armed forces of Son La province actively coordinate with the armed forces of Lao provinces to regularly patrol and exchange information on the situation regarding national defense, security, crime prevention, free migration, entry and exit, and the protection of border security and sovereignty between the two countries. They have provided financial support to Laos for the construction of 51 police stations with a total value of 7.5 billion VND; and coordinated with Hua Phan province to implement projects related to upgrading the main border gate of Long Sap (Vietnam) - Pa Hang (Laos) into an international border gate. People-to-people diplomacy with the provinces of Laos has been strengthened; maintaining twinning relationships between 7 pairs of villages on both sides of the border and 10 pairs of border guard posts with border guard companies; cultural and artistic exchanges are regularly organized, further strengthening the solidarity and close ties between the military and people on both sides of the border.
Son La College organized the traditional Bunpimay New Year celebration for Lao students.
The comprehensive cooperative relationship between Son La province and the provinces of Laos is increasingly developing, deepening, becoming more practical and effective in all fields, contributing to nurturing the traditional friendship, special solidarity, and comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and Laos, ensuring it remains ever-lasting and sustainable for generations to come.
Thanh Huyen
