Friendship for the advancement of Lao and Vietnamese women

This story marks the Laos-Vietnam Solidarity and Friendship Year 2022 and celebrates the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries and the 45th anniversary
of the signing of the Laos-Vietnam Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation.

Laos is a small and peaceful country in Southeast Asia. It is less crowded and much less developed compared to its five neighbouring countries.
It’s also the only country in Southeast Asia without a coastline but its combination of ancient traditions and tranquility endears it to other nations and this small country is continually working with other countries to create a better future, through the formation of strong and dependable relationships.

Lao and Vietnamese’s Women’s Unions exchange Memorandums of Understanding.

In line with the Party’s policy on building close ties and all-round cooperation with other countries, Laos looks to Vietnam for support because of the long history of cooperation between the two countries, which has its roots in the struggle for national liberation and continues today in both countries’ protection and development efforts.
Thanks to this close cooperation, the Women’s Unions of Laos and Vietnam work closely together, with a focus on the advancement of women, which has deepened in many respects over the years.
Since 2011, the Lao Women’s Union has sent 117 people on exchange courses with the Vietnamese Women’s Union on seven occasions, while the Vietnamese Women’s Union has brought 90 people to Laos on exchange visits, which also took place on seven occasions.
The Vietnamese Women’s Union has contributed to the development of human resources by holding five-month language training courses, five-month courses in political theory, organisational training for two months, and a training course on foreign relations and cooperation in 2019. The two unions have also provided mutual support when attending regional and international conferences.
In 2012, the Vietnamese Women’s Union provided funding for the Women’s Union Centre in Laos to build a shelter for impoverished women.
In 2017, the Vietnamese Women’s Union gave US$19,000 to the Lao Women’s Union and its branches in the provinces of Borikhamxay, Khammuan, Savannakhet and Champassak, and also donated more than 26 million kip to women who had helped Vietnamese volunteers.
A further donation of US$4,700 was made for flood victims in Attapeu province through the Lao Women’s Union. This was followed in 2019 by the donation of five computers to branches of the Lao Women’s Union in the provinces of Phongsaly, Oudomxay, Luang Prabang, Xieng Khuang and Huaphan.
In 2017, the Lao Women’s Union celebrated the 55th anniversary of the establishment of Laos-Vietnam diplomatic relations on September 5, 1962, and the 40th anniversary of the signing of the Laos-Vietnam Friendship and Cooperation Treaty on July 18, 1977.
This special friendship and solidarity has contributed to the development of women’s organisations in both countries, and supported efforts to fulfil the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030.
To further strengthen the long-standing solidarity between Laos and Vietnam, especially between the Lao Women’s Union and the Vietnamese Women’s Union, the two groups signed a Memorandum of Understanding to guide activities from 2021-2030.
This agreement called for further reciprocal visits by delegations from the two unions to discuss and learn lessons in leadership management and women’s development.
It also encourages the leaders of the Lao Women’s Union to improve their work through short trainings at the Vietnam Women’s Institute in Vietnam. Vietnam is also helping the Lao Women’s Union to identify and give appropriate titles to notable women and female heroes.
In addition, branches of the Lao and Vietnamese Women’s Unions in adjoining provinces will discuss lessons learnt and draw up Memorandums of Cooperation between twinned provinces.
Despite the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic in 2021, the two women’s unions continued to build their friendship, special solidarity and all-round cooperation, with the leaders of both sides sending greetings on days of national importance.
The Lao Women’s Union Centre sent a telegram offering congratulations on Lao National Day, and Vietnam held the 13th National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam in late January-early February 2021. The Vietnamese Women’s Union provided a grant of US$5,000 to the Lao Women’s Union Centre to support the prevention and control of Covid-19 in Laos.
In 2021, the two unions held talks by video link to update each other on their ongoing activities.
This year, the two unions are celebrating Laos-Vietnam Friendship Year or Vietnam-Laos 2022.
They will hold a review meeting to assess the implementation of the MOU for 2017-2022 and discuss a future MOU to cover 2023-2025, which includes improving the work carried out at the Vietnam Women’s Institute in Vietnam.
The years 2023-2025 will see more discussions about Laos’ and Vietnam’s Party and government policies and guidelines, reciprocal visits by high-level delegations, and consideration of the establishment of a Lao women’s memorial and central museum.
In addition, the two unions will step up efforts to educate their staff and members, and women of all ethnic groups, especially the younger generation, to safeguard and foster the inherited friendship and special solidarity between the two nations and the two women’s unions in various ways. There will also be opportunities to discuss various aspects of women’s development, through seminars, trainings and study tours of mutual interest, as well as increasing coordination in regional and international forums.
The Lao Women’s Union and the Vietnamese Women’s Union have successfully maintained long-standing friendship and special solidarity, and have gradually strengthened and blossomed.
--Vansay Tavinyan is an Editor in  Chief of Pasaxon Newspaper.

Members of the Lao and Vietnamese’s Women’s Unions visit the Kaysone Phomvihane Museum in Vientiane.	Members of the Lao Women’s Union visit Vietnam to celebrate the 55th anniversary of Laos-Vietnam diplomatic relations.

By Vansay Tavinyan & Patithin Phetmeuangphuan
(Latest Update June 16, 2022)