A three-day Printed Product Fair opened in
Vientiane yesterday to provide the younger generation with the chance to learn
about the long history of special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation
between Laos and Vietnam.
Members
of the public are most welcome to visit the Spring Printed Product Fair which
opened at the National Culture Hall to mark the 50th anniversary of diplomatic
relations (1962-2012) between the two neighbours and the 35th anniversary of
the signing of the Friendship and Cooperation Treaty (1977-2012).
The
ceremony opened with a performance by a group of singers, delighting the
hundreds of people in attendance with their songs depicting the great
friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between the two
nations.
Leaders
of both sides agreed that this year would be the ‘Laos-Vietnam Friendship Year
2012' in a gesture to mark the two historic events.
“This
fair reaffirms the great friendship, special solidarity, and comprehensive
cooperation between the two Parties, states and peoples,” Minister of
Information, Culture and Tourism Prof. Dr Bosengkham Vongdara told the crowd.
Deputy
Prime Minister in charge of social and cultural affairs Asang Laoly and
Minister of Information and Communication of Vietnam Nguyen Bac Son were among
hundreds of high-level officials from both sides in attendance at the event
along with Vientiane residents and students.
The fair
would further enhance the close cooperation between the two ministries as well
as the media sectors of both countries, Dr Bosengkham said.
Thousands
of printed and audiovisual materials were on display, produced by the 15 main
media organisations of Laos and Vietnam over the years.
The
fair is the second of its kind, showcasing the works of artists, media
personnel and cultural preservationists from the two countries. The first fair
was held last year to mark the 9th Congress of the Lao People's Revolutionary
Party and the 11th Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam.
The
publications on display depict the growing friendly relations and cooperation
between both sides over the past decades. Pictures and stories rarely seen
elsewhere are also on exhibition at the fair.
There
are photos, documents and footage recording the exchange visits made by leaders
from both sides, including the meeting between the late Lao President Kaysone
Phomvihane and his Vietnamese counterpart Ho Chi Minh, the two leaders who laid
the solid foun dations for bilateral relations.
The
display also depicts people's living conditions and the accomplishments in
national construction and development of the two peoples in line with the
renovation policies initiated by the two Parties, Prof Dr Bosengkham said.
Nguyen
Bac Son spoke highly of the fair, saying it provided an opportunity for
everyone to learn about Laos and Vietnam and their fine cultures. It also gave
officials working in the media and printing sectors from the respective
countries the chance to meet and discuss issues of mutual interest.
Leaders
of both nations have maintained close contact over an extended period. They
have chosen one another for their first official foreign visit after taking up
a new post. Cooperation between both sides has been growing consistently, with
Vietnam being one of the top three for eign investors in Laos.
Vietnam
operates 224 investment projects worth a total of US$3.57 billion in Laos,
mainly in the mining, electricity, agriculture and service sectors.
The
two-way trade value between the two countries has steadily increased, reaching
US$700 million in 2011. Laos and Vietnam are targeting a trade value of US$1
billion this year and US$2 billion by 2015.
Vietnam
is also actively engaged in helping Laos to develop its human resource
potential, providing a number of scholarships to Lao students and officials to
study in Vietnam.
News
Desk
Vientiane
Times
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