Le Thanh Hai, Politburo member of the Party Central Committee and Secretary of the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee, has been awarded the Freedom Order, first class, by the Lao State .

The decoration was presented to Secretary Hai by Bounnhang Vorachit, Politburo member and permanent member of the Secretariat of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party, at a ceremony held in the city on December 21.

Bounnhang Vorachit highlighted Secretary Hai’s contribution to the Lao revolutionary cause and national defence and development, helping developing and strengthening special friendship, unity and comprehensive co-operation between the Parties, States and people of Laos and Vietnam.

Mr Hai said that he and the HCM City Party Committee, administration and citizens will do their utmost to foster the traditional friendly ties and comprehensive co-operation between the two peoples. (VNA)