Vietnamese and Lao politicians, warveterans and historians have recalled common hardship experiencesduring two major wars 60 years ago, when soldiers from the twoneighbours shared “every grain of salt and every stalk of vegetables”.

A workshop held in Vientiane, Laos, from Sept. 11-12 heard touchingstories from Vietnamese and Lao war veterans who had stood shoulder byshoulder in the wars of resistance against common French and USaggressors on the Lao soil.

Their stories have sent a common message on a special military alliancebetween the two countries to younger generations, emphasising that suchties have always been vital to every victory gained by each and everycountry in their independence wars.

Among the participants were To Huy Rua, Politburo member and Secretaryof the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee (CPV CC) and Headof the CPV CC Commission for Education and Training, who led aVietnamese delegation to the workshop, and over 50 Vietnamese warveterans with special experiences in Central Lao battlefields.

Also present were Samane Vinhakhet, Politburo member of the LaoPeople’s Revolutionary Party (LPRP) in charge of the Party theoretical,ideological and cultural work, and many other senior Lao officials.

Samane Vinhakhet said their stories were vivid documents that willcontribute a considerable part to a collection of historic books on theVietnam-Laos special combat alliance.

During their two-day stay in Laos, Rua and his entourage laid a wreathat the Monument to Fallen Soldiers of Laos and Vietnam, lit sticks ofincense at the shrine and monument to the late President KaysonePhomvihane of Laos and visited several Vietnam-Laos economicjoint-ventures./.