(KPL/VNA) A special talk on the life and career of late Lao President Kaysone Phomvihane was held on December 9 at the Vietnamese Embassy in Laos, highlighting his profound influence on the hearts of the Lao and Vietnamese people and the enduring strength of bilateral ties.

The event was part of a series of activities celebrating major national anniversaries of both countries and aimed at deepening mutual understanding and reinforcing the great friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between Laos and Vietnam.

Participants included former Politburo member and former Lao Deputy Prime Minister Somsavath Lengsavad, Vietnamese Ambassador to Laos Nguyen Minh Tam, officials, Party members and staff of the embassy, representatives of Vietnamese agencies and members of the Vietnamese community in Laos.

Somsavath said President Kaysone Phomvihane, born on December 13, 1920, in Savannakhet province, had joined students' movements against French colonialists and Japanese fascists in Vietnam. Throughout his revolutionary life, President Kaysone Phomvihane remained humble and steadfast in pursuing national independence and the happiness of the Lao people. His ideology emphasised the power of unity and placed the people at the centre of all policies.

He noted that thanks to creative leadership, the revolutionary traditions of the Lao people, and wholehearted support from the Party, State and people of Vietnam, the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party led the country to overcome numerous challenges and achieve comprehensive victories. This revolutionary environment also forged strong bonds between leaders of both countries, including President Kaysone Phomvihane, and helped cultivate the exceptional friendship and strategic cooperation between Laos and Vietnam.

Somsavath stressed that President Kaysone Phomvihane’s moral qualities and ideology remain a guiding light in Laos’ national development and safeguarding efforts. Although he has passed away, his legacy continues to serve as a valuable compass for Laos in the current era and leaves a deep mark on the hearts of the Vietnamese people.

For his part, Tam emphasised that the Communist Party of Vietnam and the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party originated from the Indochinese Communist Party. The Vietnam–Laos special relationship, founded by President Ho Chi Minh, President Kaysone Phomvihane and President Souphanouvong, and nurtured by generations of leaders and people of both nations, has become a priceless common asset and a decisive factor in revolutionary victories.

He affirmed that President Kaysone Phomvihane’s ideological values continue to be inherited and promoted by both countries. Following the visit of Party General Secretary To Lam to Laos and attendance at celebrations of the 50th Lao National Day, the two sides elevated their ties to “great friendship, special solidarity, comprehensive cooperation and strategic cohesion,” opening a new chapter suited to current circumstances.

The ambassador stressed that the talk helped officials, party members and the Vietnamese community in Laos gain a deeper understanding of President Kaysone Phomvihane's stature, the historical roots of the special solidarity between the two nations, and the responsibility of each individual in preserving and strengthening this relationship in the new development phase.

KPL