Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and Lao Party chief and President Bounnhang Volachith underscored the significance of the traditional friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and Laos during their talks in Hanoi on April 25.

At the welcome ceremony.

Their talks took place right after the welcome ceremony of the highest rituals for the statesman.

Party chief Trong said Bounnhang Volachith’s choosing Vietnam as the first destination after his election reflects the appreciation of the Lao Party and State and he himself for fostering the great friendship, special and pure solidarity, and all-around cooperation between Vietnam and Laos.

He believed that the visit, which took place following the success of each National Party Congress and the election of deputies to the Lao National Assembly (eighth tenure), would further contribute to lifting ties between the two Parties and countries to a greater height.

The Party, State and people of Vietnam strongly and fully support the renewal, national construction and defence of Laos, he stated, expressing his belief that under the leadership of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party led by Bounnhang Volachith, the fraternal Lao people will successfully realise the resolution set by the 10 th National Party Congress and the 2016-2020 socio-economic development scheme, building a Laos of peace, independence, democracy, unification and prosperity according to their socialism goals.

Host and guest affirmed that under any circumstance, the two Parties and peoples will do their best to maintain and nurture the everlasting Vietnam – Laos ties.

They vowed to intensify the bilateral comprehensive partnership on the basis of upholding the spirit of independence, self-reliance, fair and mutually beneficial cooperation while giving priority to each other for the sake of each country’s prosperity, and for peace, stability, cooperation and development in Southeast Asia and the world.

The two leaders agreed to further improve the quality of ideological exchange and the realities of Party building, State and socio-economic management while raising public awareness of the bilateral special relationship, and working closely together to celebrate the 55 th anniversary of diplomatic ties and the 40 th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation next year.

Both sides pledged close collaboration in regional and global issues and at multilateral forums, contributing to a strong ASEAN. They also committed to the sustainable and effective use and management of Mekong River water resources, and effectively carrying out projects in the Laos–Vietnam–Cambodia development triangle.

Vietnam actively supports and shares its experience to help Laos fulfill its role as ASEAN Chair 2016, the host said.

On the East Sea issue, the leaders stressed the significance of maintaining peace, stability, security and safety in the East Sea.

They consented to accelerating the settlement of disputes in the East Sea by peaceful means and in line with international law, as well as fully and effectively abiding by the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea and soon reaching a Code of Conduct in the East Sea.

On the occasion, the Vietnamese leader also accepted his guest’s invitation to visit Laos in the foreseeable future.

In the evening the same day, he hosted a banquet in honour of the Lao leader and his entourage.

Lao Party chief reasserts special attention to relations with Vietnam

General Secretary of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party and President Bounnhang Volachith said that the visit to Vietnam in his first overseas trip as Party and State leader shows that the Party and State of Laos and he himself attach great importance to preserving and enhancing the friendship, special, loyal and pure solidarity, and comprehensive cooperation with Vietnam.

General Secretary of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party and President of Laos Bounnhang Volachith made the remarks during his talks with Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong following his arrival in Hanoi on April 25 to begin his three-day official friendly visit to Vietnam.

The visit is made at the invitation of Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and President Tran Dai Quang.

Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong described the visit as an important event taking place after the Party Congress in each nation and the election of the eighth Lao National Assembly.

The host expressed his belief that the visit will reap successes, contributing to promoting relations between the two Parties and States in the time ahead.

Bounnhang Volachith, for his part, congratulated Nguyen Phu Trong on his re-election as General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) for 2016-2021.

Vietnam is always Laos’ trustworthy and close friend, he said, noting his belief that under the leadership of the CPV, Vietnamese people will record more significant achievements in order to basically turn the country into a modernity-oriented industrialised nation and raise the country’s position in the region and the world at large.

Vietnam will work with Laos to nurture bilateral ties: PM

The Vietnamese Government will continue doing its utmost to coordinate with the Lao side in nurturing the two countries’ traditional friendship and cooperation in order to bring about practical benefits for their people, confirmed Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc.

At his meeting with Lao Party General Secretary and President Bounnhang Volachith in Hanoi on April 25, PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc congratulated Laos’ socio-economic development achievements, believing that under the sound leadership of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party, the country will reap greater results during its national construction and development.

He suggested the two sides effectively carry out cooperative mechanisms approved by their high-level leaders, with the priority given to the 2016 Vietnam-Laos bilateral cooperation agreement and another for the 2016-2020 period , as well as speeding up the implementation of Vietnam’s investment projects in Laos, and completing the establishment of a project on connectivity between the two economies as early as possible.

The Vietnamese Government leader also asked both sides to intensify solidarity and cooperation at regional and global forums, especially within the ASEAN cooperative framework, and contribute to peace and stability to promote development and maintain ASEAN’s common voice in addressing essential problems in the region including the East Sea issue and the management and sustainable use of Mekong River water resources.

The Lao top leader affirmed that Laos will exert extra efforts, together with the Vietnamese side, to lift the bilateral relations to a new height.

He requested the two Governments to strengthen coordination to efficiently implement cooperation projects in order to further develop the economic, trade and investment ties between Laos and Vietnam.

On the same day, the Lao guest was received by National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan who said that in her new position, she will work to boost collaboration between the two legislative bodies and nurture the Vietnam-Laos special friendship.

Regarding the relationship between the two bodies, she stressed the need for them to intensify the sharing of information and experience in legislative affairs, supervision and making decisions on the countries’ major issues.

Sharing the same opinion, the Lao Party and State leader suggested the two National Assemblies maintain cooperation in the fields of mutual concern.

VNA