29th Vietnam-Laos meeting on martyrs’ repatriation held in HCM City
Vietnam's search teams located and collected the remains of 184 martyrs in Laos in the 2023-2024 dry season, with nine identified by name and hometown, heard a meeting between special task forces of the Vietnamese and Lao governments held in Ho Chi Minh City on June 24.
Deputy Minister of National Defence Senior Lieutenant General and the head of the Vietnamese task force Vo Minh Luong (right) and Deputy Minister of National Defence and head of the Lao task force Senior Lieutenant General Thongloi Silivong sign the minutes of the 29th meeting in Ho Chi Minh City on June 24. (Photo: VNA)
HCM City (VNA) – Vietnam's search teams located and collected the remains of 184 martyrs in Laos in the 2023-2024 dry season, with nine identified by name and hometown, heard a meeting between special task forces of the Vietnamese and Lao governments held in Ho Chi Minh City on June 24.
The meeting, the 29th of its kind, discussed the search, collection, and repatriation of the remains of Vietnamese volunteer soldiers and experts who died in Laos during wartime.
In his remarks, Deputy Minister of National Defence Senior Lieutenant General and the head of the Vietnamese task force Vo Minh Luong underscored that the traditional friendship, special solidarity, and comprehensive cooperation between the Parties, States, and people of Vietnam and Laos form the foundation for their development and standing on the international stage, contributing to peace, stability, and development in the region and the world.
In response, Deputy Minister of National Defence and head of the Lao task force Senior Lieutenant General Thongloi Silivong affirmed that the Lao Party, Government, army, and people always remember and appreciate the Vietnamese side’s significant support for the country in its past struggle for national independence and current phase of national construction and development.
As heard at the meeting, the nations’ special task forces and local authorities have regularly coordinated to promptly resolve any challenges in the organisation and execution of the search and repatriation mission. The Lao side assisted Vietnam’s search teams in all activities and encouraged locals to provide details about possible burial sites.
Vietnam and Laos agreed that in the 2024-2025 dry season, they will collaborate until no further information about burial sites is available. Additionally, efforts will be intensified to promote and encourage the citizens of both countries to provide information about the martyrs and their graves, with their special task forces 🐟and provincial military commands tasked with conducting regular contacts and experience exchanges./.
The northwestern province of Dien Bien on June 19 held a memorial and burial service for the remains of 12 Vietnamese volunteer soldiers and experts who laid down their lives in Laos.
A ceremony was held in Oumdomxay province on June 18 to handover and repatriate remains of Vietnamese volunteer soldiers and experts who laid down their lives during the wartime in the six northern localities of Laos.
The central province of Nghe An on May 24 held a memorial and burial service for the remains of 87 Vietnamese volunteer soldiers and experts who laid down their lives in Laos.
The Party and State of Vietnam always attach great importance to and give top priority to the development of Vietnam–China relations. Vietnam is ready to work with the Chinese Party and State to further deepen the Comprehensive Strategic Cooperative Partnership and promote the building of the Vietnam-China community with a shared future that carries strategic significance.
Under the leadership of President Ho Chi Minh and the CPV, President Cuong said, the press has been a steadfast force on the ideological and cultural front, rallying the masses to pursue national aspirations.
NA Chairman Tran Thanh Man stressed the need to accelerate the application of artificial intelligence and smart teaching equipment, innovate teaching and assessment methods, and further improve the quality of formal education.
He also pledged that the NA will promote its ongoing supervision, making sure that every promise must lead to results, and every commitment must bring about real changes.
Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien welcomed the proposals put forward by the US side and reiterated Vietnam’s request for consideration of key areas of interest, including reciprocal tariff policies and access for Vietnamese key export products to the US market.
Deputy PM Le Thanh Long proposed countries promote shared values, including building trust, sincerity, and solidarity among nations and peoples; fostering cooperation spirit and responsible behaviour as well as upholding international law and the UN Charter; and placing people at the centre and as the goal, the key player, and the driving force of all policies.
The show, together with a grand parade to be held silmutaneously at Ba Dinh Square in Hanoi, will celebrate the 80th anniversary of the August Revolution, the National Day, and the General Staff of the Vietnam People’s Army (VPA).
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New Zealand is currently one of Vietnam’s most important partners in the region, marked by a high level of political trust, strong and reliable defence and security cooperation, and increasingly open economic, trade, and investment ties.
Party General Secretary To Lam stressed that the Central Public Security Party Committee must be fully aware of the extremely important role of the People's Public Security force in the country's new revolutionary phase, so as to guide each branch and level of the force as the nation undergoes transformation.
Addressing concerns over university education spending, Son explained that as public universities gain greater autonomy, the Ministry of Finance has scaled back recurrent state funding. “Over the past decade, as autonomy has increased, the State's support has steadily declined”, he noted
Lao Minister of Foreign Affairs Thongsavanh Phomvihane affirmed that the presence of Vietnamese press offices in Laos vividly demonstrates the great friendship, special solidarity, and comprehensive cooperation between the two nations, as the press is not only a means of communication but also an important bridge for spreading consciousness about the history, values, and strategic depth of the Laos – Vietnam relationship to the people of both countries and the international community.
The country is willing to participate in collective efforts to promote cooperation and mobilise resources to advance the current priority issues of developing countries, such as trade, investment, infrastructure connectivity, making the most of scientific and technological advances for development, and people-to-people exchanges, Hang said.
During the negotiations, the US highly evaluated Vietnam’s goodwill and efforts, affirmed its appreciation for the bilateral relationship, acknowledged Vietnam’s proposals and concerns, and considered these an important basis for continuing discussions and moving towards a final agreement.
The Chairman stressed the need for stricter fiscal discipline, faster digital transformation, and more efficient management of State budget revenues and expenditures.
