"Vietnam - Laos Special Friendship Festival 2023" will open up many opportunities for cooperation and exchange between the two countries.

With the desire to promote the image of a renewed and developed Vietnam, thereby strengthening the traditional friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and Laos, the Ministry of Information and Communications in coordination with the People's Committee of Thua Thien Hue province organized the Vietnam - Laos Special Friendship Festival Program in 2023 with the theme: "Information and communication, a bright spot in the Vietnam - Laos cooperation relationship". The program took place in Thua Thien Hue from November 11 to November 15.

The press conference held on the afternoon of November 6 in Hanoi was chaired by Deputy Minister Nguyen Thanh Lam, spokesperson of the Ministry of Information and Communications . Co-chairing the program introducing the "Vietnam - Laos Special Friendship Festival 2023" were Mr. Nguyen Thanh Binh, Permanent Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Thua Thien Hue province and Mr. O Lam Chawnthavilay, Second Secretary in charge of press information, Embassy of Laos in Vietnam.

Deputy Minister of Information and Communications Nguyen Thanh Lam chaired the program to introduce to the press about the "Vietnam - Laos Special Friendship Festival 2023". Photo: Internet.

Deputy Minister Nguyen Thanh Lam said that the program "Vietnam - Laos Special Friendship Festival 2023" is an activity to celebrate the 61st anniversary of the establishment of Vietnam - Laos diplomatic relations (1962 - 2023) and the 46th anniversary of the signing of the friendship and cooperation treaty between the two countries (1977 - 2023).

In the current renovation process of each country, both Vietnam and Laos have achieved great and historic achievements in economics, society and foreign affairs, helping the close cooperative relationship between Vietnam and Laos to become increasingly stronger and expand in many fields.

Sharing at the press conference, Mr. Dinh Tien Dung, Deputy Director of the Department of Foreign Information, Deputy Standing Member of the Program Organizing Committee, said: The 2023 Friendship Festival Program will further promote foreign information activities with three pillars: "Strengthening Vietnam - Laos cooperation in the field of information and communication; Strengthening investment activities, promoting trade and tourism between Vietnam and Laos in general and between localities sharing the border in particular; Strengthening people-to-people exchanges between the two countries, especially people in provinces bordering Vietnam - Laos".

During the 5-day event, the Program will organize a series of meaningful events, demonstrating the strong friendship between the people of the two countries, including: Photo exhibition on Vietnam - Laos relations; Fair - Exhibition with more than 50 booths, organized with the highlight being the booths of Vietnam News Agency, Nhan Dan Newspaper, Voice of Vietnam Radio... with information publications and media programs in Lao language.

In addition, there was also a scientific seminar with the theme "Prospects of Vietnam - Laos press and media cooperation: Challenges and solutions". Sharing about the potential and opportunities in media cooperation between the two countries, Mr. Nguyen Thanh Lam, Deputy Minister of Information and Communications, said: "The two countries have many successful cooperation models in this field. The seminar will open up more opportunities for the two sides to continue to exchange, learn from experiences and discuss things that the two sides can coordinate with each other to solve social management issues and global challenges".

Bich Huong