People's diplomacy - a bridge to foster international friendship

(Baohatinh.vn) - People's foreign affairs have contributed to fostering solidarity and friendship between Vietnam and international friends, spreading the image of a friendly, affectionate, and dynamic Ha Tinh on the new development journey.

Strengthening the special Vietnam - Laos relationship

As a province sharing more than 164 km of border with the two provinces of Bolikhamxay and Khammouane of Lao PDR, Ha Tinh always identifies border diplomacy as one of the key tasks of people's diplomacy.

The Cau Treo International Border Gate Border Guard Station and Border Protection Company 253 (Bolikhamsay Provincial Military Command, Laos) conduct bilateral patrols to protect the common border and border markers. Photo by Tien Dung .

Major Bui Song Anh - Head of the Cau Treo International Border Control Station said: "We always coordinate closely with the competent authorities of neighboring countries at Nam Phao International Border Control Station to ensure safe and smooth customs clearance for people, vehicles and goods. Each year, the unit handles procedures for about 366 thousand people, nearly 111 thousand vehicles, nearly 840 thousand tons of goods; at the same time, we coordinate to fight and handle 2-3 major cases on drugs, banned goods, and illegal entry and exit."

Along with the task of protecting the border, Ha Tinh border units have actively carried out many twinning and exchange activities with border protection forces of neighboring countries.

Residents of Thoong Pe village (Kham Cot district, Bolikhamxay province) went to Son Kim 1 commune to exchange, learn experiences, and strengthen solidarity.

Many border posts on both sides are closely linked, such as: Cau Treo International Border Post with Nam Phao International Border Police Station and Border Protection Company 253; Son Hong Border Post with Border Protection Company 252, Ban Giang Border Post with Border Protection Company 311 and Ma Ka Police Station (Kham Muon province).

The search and collection of remains of Vietnamese volunteer soldiers and experts who died in Laos continues. From 2020 to the dry season of 2025, the Special Working Group of Ha Tinh province coordinated with other provinces to collect 45 remains of martyrs and bring them back to their hometowns for burial.

Ha Tinh border medical staff take care of the health of people from Laos.

Along with that, social security activities for people of the two countries near the border are also maintained and widely spread. From 2019 to now, Ha Tinh has supported about 10 billion VND to help neighboring provinces build schools, medical stations, roads, and prevent the COVID-19 epidemic; organized medical examination and treatment, and provided free medicine to more than 11,000 Lao people with a value of nearly 700 million VND...

The delegation of Nguyen Du Lao - Vietnam Bilingual School was warmly welcomed at Cau Treo International Border Gate during their visit to cultural and historical sites in Ha Tinh in July 2025.

In the field of economic investment cooperation between the two countries, Lao-Viet International Port Joint Stock Company is considered a symbol of success and exemplary. The opening ceremony of Terminal No. 3 of Lao-Viet International Port and the introduction of new Lao shareholders on April 28, 2025 is an important milestone that further enhances this strong friendship.

Ha Tinh is one of the localities with the largest training cooperation activities with Laos in the country. In the 2020-2025 period, the province has granted 675 full scholarships, with an average total support of over 6 billion VND/year for Lao students studying at universities and colleges. From the 2024-2025 school year, the total support will be increased to an average of 25 billion VND/year, expanding to include Lao high school students.

Lao students in Ha Tinh enjoy many support policies from the province in their studies and lives.

Student Outhai Chanthakhin (Class K15 Finance - Banking, Ha Tinh University) shared: “The years living and studying in Ha Tinh will be the most memorable time of my life. We are subsidized for tuition and living expenses; we are wholeheartedly supported in both study and life. Later, when we return to our country, we will try to promote the knowledge and experience we have learned here and become a bridge to contribute to fostering the friendship between Vietnam and Laos.”

Diversify people-to-people diplomacy activities

Along with strengthening the Vietnam - Laos friendship, Ha Tinh also promotes people-to-people diplomacy activities with many countries and territories, thereby expanding cooperative relations and promoting the local image to the world.

Cadres, soldiers and people of all walks of life in the province actively responded to the campaign to support the Cuban people.

Responding to the program “65 years of Vietnam - Cuba friendship” launched by the Red Cross at all levels, people from all walks of life in the province expressed special interest and actively contributed to support the Cuban people. The program attracted nearly 973 organizations and individuals to participate with a total donation of more than 2.6 billion VND.

Ha Tinh raised 2.6 billion VND to support the Cuban people.

With such outstanding results, Ha Tinh became one of 19 units to receive a certificate of merit from the Central Committee of the Vietnam Red Cross. This achievement clearly demonstrates the sentiment, responsibility and noble gesture of the cadres, soldiers and people of Ha Tinh in particular, and of the Vietnamese people in general, towards the brotherly country of Cuba.

Schools in Ha Tinh have launched letter-writing and painting activities praising the solidarity and friendship between Vietnam and Cuba.

Ms. Bui Thi Xuan - Standing Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee of Thach Ha commune shared: “After the commune launched the program, cadres, soldiers and people from all walks of life responded very positively. The commune has raised more than 310 million VND to support the program. We, the people, consider this an opportunity to express our affection, responsibility and gratitude to the country and people of Cuba. Every contribution, no matter how small, is a symbol of the affection and solidarity between the people of the two countries.”

Not only stopping at material donations, many schools in the area also organize painting, letter writing and composition activities about Vietnam - Cuba friendship, contributing to educating the tradition of international solidarity and fostering humane feelings for the younger generation.

The Provincial Red Cross Society was awarded a certificate of merit by the Central Committee of the Vietnam Red Cross Society for its campaign to support the Cuban people. In the photo: Chairwoman of the Provincial Red Cross Society Le Thi Mai Hoa (second from right) received a certificate of merit at the closing ceremony of the program "65 years of Vietnam - Cuba friendship".

In addition to friendly activities, Ha Tinh actively promotes international cooperation in the fields of economy, culture, education, tourism promotion... In the period of 2020-2024, the province signed 29 international cooperation agreements; implemented 107 non-refundable aid programs and projects and emergency relief after natural disasters with a total disbursement value of 6.35 million USD.

Delegation from Kasetsart University (Thailand) had a cultural exchange in Ha Linh commune. Photo by Phuc Son.

The province regularly organizes performances, cultural exchanges, and heritage exhibitions to serve international delegations, contributing to promoting local cultural values.

The community of about 85,000 Ha Tinh people living abroad is also an important force in people-to-people diplomacy. Many overseas Vietnamese actively connect and invest in large projects in their homeland; becoming a bridge of friendship, contributing to promoting the image of Ha Tinh land and people.

In recent times, Ha Tinh's people's diplomacy has been implemented systematically and comprehensively, promoting the combined strength of the entire political system. International exchange, support and cooperation activities not only contribute to strengthening friendship but also create a solid foundation for peace, cooperation and sustainable development. It can be affirmed that people's diplomacy will continue to be an important channel to expand cooperative relations, strengthen international solidarity and spread the good values ​​of Ha Tinh - friendly, affectionate, integrated and developed.

Mr. Thai Ngoc Hai - Vice Chairman of the Provincial Fatherland Front Committee.

Source: https://baohatinh.vn/doi-ngoai-nhan-dan-cau-noi-vun-dap-tinh-huu-nghi-quoc-te-post297954.html