State President Truong Tan Sang met with Lao Prime Minister Thongsing Thammavong on March 24, during which they agreed to work hard to raise bilateral trade turnover to 2 billion USD in 2015, up 40 percent from the previous year.

The Lao government leader spoke highly of President Sang’s visit, saying that it will contribute importantly to consolidating and strengthening the time-honoured friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between the two Parties, States and peoples.

He said he is delighted at the achievements Vietnam has gained during its national development with increasingly important role and position in the region and the world.

These achievements are a source of encouragement for the people of Laos during the national construction and development towards socialism, he added.

He thanked Vietnam for its valuable support for Laos, affirming that he will do his utmost to deepen the two countries’ all-round partnership.

President Sang, in turn, confirmed that the Vietnamese Party, State and people always attach importance to and prioritise maintaining and developing the Vietnam-Laos relationship.

At the meeting, the two sides discussed measures to realise signed agreements and those reached during the 37 th meeting of the Vietnam-Laos Inter-governmental Committee, agreeing to soon issue policies to facilitate trade and investment cooperation and to speed up the implementation of the one-stop-shop mechanism.

They also agreed on closer coordination in ensuring defence and security, combating crimes, particularly those involving drug smuggling, trade fraud, and preventing illegal migration.

The two sides vowed to instruct relevant ministries and sectors to early complete a project on increasing and upgrading national border markers within 2015 in order to ensure the border line of friendship between the two countries.

They also exchanged views on several regional and international issues, pledging to collaborate closely at multilateral forums, work together and with other ASEAN members to complete the formation of the ASEAN Community by the end of this year, and intensify the study on the sustainable and efficient use of the Mekong River water resource.

The Vietnamese State leader asked the Lao side to continue creating favourable conditions for the Vietnamese community here.

Vietnam is willing to support Laos in its position as the Chair of ASEAN in 2016, he affirmed.

Lao legislative leader fosters ties with Vietnam

Lao National Assembly Chairwoman Pany Yathotou and visiting Vietnamese President Truong Tan Sang have agreed to bolster cooperation between the two countries through enhancing exchange of high-level visits and meetings between their leaders.

During their meeting in Vientiane on March 24, Pany Yathotou highlighted the significance of President Sang’s visit to her country, saying that it contributes to consolidating and strengthening the Laos-Vietnam traditional friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooparation.

The two sides noted that the bilateral relations saw increasingly fruitful development in all fields in recent time, bringing practical benefit to the two peoples.

The two leaders concurred that it is necessary to boost coordination between the two Parties, Governments as well as between their legislative bodies.

In particular, they said that the Vietnamese and Lao NAs should coordinate closer in managing and supervising investment cooperation projects between the countries, while promoting cooperation in human resource training in the coming time.

President Sang said he welcomes Pany Yathotou’s upcoming official visit to Vietnam and her attendance at the 132nd Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU-132) Assembly, which will take place in Hanoi late this month.

The same day, President Truong Tan Sang visited the Kaysone Phomvihane museum in Vientiane and the late Lao President’s family.

President meets with former Lao leaders

State President Truong Tan Sang met with former Lao leaders in Vientiane on March 24 as part of his ongoing visit to celebrate 60 years of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party (LPRP), and the 40th anniversary of Lao National Day.

Meeting with former Lao President Khamtay Siphadone, President Sang lauded Laos’ achievements over the past few years.

He added that relations between the two countries have deepened regardless of shifts in the region and the world.

The Lao ex-President suggested the two countries holding regular high-level meetings to stay informed on their respective contexts and discuss topics of mutual concern to increase friendship between the two Parties and peoples.

He hailed the outcomes of the talks between State President Truong Tan Sang and LPRP General Secretary and State President Choummaly Sayasone.

He said he hopes Vietnam will support Laos to successfully organise political and socio-economic events in 2015.

Welcoming the President at home, Saman Vinhaket, former Chairman of the Lao National Assembly and Head of the Lao Steering Committee for ideology, theory & culture highlighted the Vietnamese President’s visit as a great source of encouragement for the Lao Party and people as they celebrate the foundation of their Party and nation.

He said Laos treasures the time-honoured friendship between the two countries, an invaluable asset for future generations.

President Truong Tan Sang wished the Lao Party and State are able to meet their socio-economic targets and successfully organise all-level Party Congresses and the 10th National Party Congress.

The same day, President Sang visited the monument of late President Souphanouvong.

He wrote on the visitors’ book that the Vietnamese Party, State and people will do their utmost together with Laos to preserve and develop the bilateral traditional friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation.

VNA