Lao and Vietnamese leaders yesterday reiterated their deep appreciation of the time-honoured friendly relations, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between the two neighbours at the start of a three day state visit to Laos by the General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV), Nguyen Phu Trong.
General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and his high-level delegation are visiting Laos at the invitation of the Secretary General of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party and President, Bounnhang Vorachit.
An official welcoming ceremony took place at the Presidential Palace where General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and his delegation were greeted by Secretary General Bounnhang and other high-level Lao officials.
At the bilateral talks held shortly after the welcoming ceremony, the Lao Party and state leader officially welcomed General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and his delegation.
The Lao leader said he highly valued the visit to Laos by the Vietnam Party Chief, saying it would further strengthen the traditional friendly relations, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between the two Parties, states and peoples, which was engendered by President Ho Chi Minh, President Kaysone Phomvihane and President Souphanouvong and nurtured since by generations of leaders and citizens.
General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong expressed his delight at leading his delegation to visit Laos, making his first overseas trip following his re-election as Party General Secretary in January 2016. He expressed heartfelt thanks to Party and state leaders and the people of Laos for the warm hospitality extended to him and his delegation.
The Vietnam Party Chief expressed his confidence that the Lao people under the leadership of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party would enjoy greater achievements and successfully realise the Resolution of the 10th Party Congress.
The leaders briefed each other on the important issues taking place within their respective parties and countries. T hey reviewed the relations and cooperation between the two nations in recent years and discussed future cooperation in order to elevate the special relationship to new heights .
Following their talks, the leaders witnessed the signing of seven documents to enhance Laos-Vietnam relations and cooperation.
The documents are as follows: a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in which the Party, state and people of Vietnam will support the construction of a new National Assembly building for Laos. Another MOU undertook to build a school in Borikhamxay province as a gift from General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong.
The third document is a five-year cooperation agreement (2016-2020) between the Lao Front for National Construction and its Vietnamese counterpart. The fourth is an agreement to revise the cooperation strategy between Laos and Vietnam in Huaphan and Xieng Khuang provinces until 2020.
The remaining three documents comprise an agreement on investment for the planned Vientiane-Hanoi Highway Project, an agreement on the five-year transport cooperation plan (2016-2020), and an MOU to create an economic and trade cooperation website.
Later in the day, the Vietnam Party chief and his delegation called on Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith at the Prime Minister’s Office, and President of the National Assembly Ms Pany Yathotou at the National Assembly Office.
General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong also received courtesy visits from the President of the Lao Front for National Construction Dr Xaysomphone Phomvihane, and President of the Laos-Vietnam Friendship Association Dr Vilayvong Boutdakham.
Secretary General Bounnhang hosted a banquet in honour of General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and his delegation.
Source: Vientiane Times
