HÀ NỘI – The Lao Party, State and people will do their utmost, together with Việt Nam, to nurture the two countries’ special solidarity and develop it to new heights for the benefit of not only local people, but also for peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region and across the world.

The statement was made by President of the Lao Front for National Development (LFND) Saysomphone Phomvihane while he was received by General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Nguyễn Phú Trọng in Hà Nội yesterday.

Congratulating Việt Nam on its socio-economic development, the LFND President expressed his belief that under the leadership of the CPV, the Vietnamese people will continue to reap further achievements during the Đổi mới (Renewal) process.

He took the occasion to express his gratitude for Việt Nam’s support for Laos, most recently in its relief aid for people affected by a dam collapse in southern Laos.

He also informed the host about the outcomes of his talks with head of the CPV Central Committee’s Commission on Mass Mobilisation, Trương Thị Mai, and affirmed that the two sides will maintain close collaboration in realising signed cooperation agreements. The Vietnamese Party chief said he is delighted at the wide-ranging development of Việt Nam-Laos special relations across all fields, with important contributions from the LFND.

He expressed his sympathy over the terrible human and asset losses caused by the dam collapse in Attapeu province, believing that under the leadership of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party, those affected will soon be able to overcome its consequences, stabilise their lives, and resume production. The leader appreciated the cooperation results between the CPV Central Committee’s Commission on Mass Mobilisation and the LFND, stressing the importance of mass mobilisation work at present.

He showed his hope that the two sides will step up the sharing of experience in each party’s mass mobilisation work, as well as personnel training and cooperation in educating people, especially younger generations, on the two countries’ special relations.

Earlier in the day, the Lao guest held talks with head of the CPV Central Committee’s Commission on Mass Mobilisation Trương Thị Mai.

They agreed to cooperate in implementing agreements signed by the two Parties’ leaders as well as the 2016-2020 cooperation agreement between the two agencies.

Also the same day, Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc hosted the visiting Chairman of LFNC’s Central Committee Saysomphone Phomvihane.

The Government leader highlighted the growth in special ties between the two countries over the past years, stressing that the two sides should work closely together to further develop the relationship and fight division plots by hostile forces. He expressed his sympathies over the losses that Laos has suffered during the collapse of the hydropower dam in Attapeu, underlining that Việt Nam has made every effort to help Laos overcome the consequences of the disaster.

Amid complicated and unexpected developments in the world and the region, he stressed the need for the two sides to effectively implement joint statements and high-level agreements, as well as cooperation plans between the two Governments and agencies from both sides, including the collaboration deal between the Communist Party of Việt Nam’s Mass Mobilisation Commission and the LFNC for the 2016-2020 period.

Noting that the LFNC will host the Laos-Việt Nam-Cambodia Buddhism conference in late 2018, the PM underscored the significance of mass mobilisation, as well as ethnic and religious affairs to national construction and defence in both countries.

He asked for closer collaboration between the LFNC and the Việt Nam Fatherland Front in popularising and promoting the tradition of the special ties of Viet Nam and Laos, while combating wrongful arguments from hostile forces to divide the two nations, and continue supporting each other at multilateral forums.

PM Phúc affirmed his support to the strengthening of affiliation among agencies and sectors of Việt Nam with the LFNC, as well as the policy of fostering partnerships among localities of both sides, especially those along the border.

On the occasion, the PM asked the Lao side to continue backing the Vietnamese community in settling down in the country.

For his part, Saysomphone Phomvihane thanked the Party, State and people of Việt Nam for giving a helping hand to Laos during the hydropower collapse in Attapeu.

Lauding the socio-economic development of Việt Nam, he described the success as motivation for Laos in completing socio-economic targets.

Briefing the host on the outcomes of his talks with representatives of the Mass Mobilisation Commission of Việt Nam, he said that the two sides agreed to work harder together to educate the younger generations in both countries on the loyal solidarity and close ties between the two nations, while continuing the exchange of delegations and coordination in holding conferences and seeking measures to boost the growth of the Việt Nam-Laos special friendship.

He said that the LFNC has maintained sound partnerships with the Vietnamese side in issues related to ethnic and religious affairs, and asked for Việt Nam’s support in the organisation of the Laos-Việt Nam-Cambodia Buddhism conference.

On the occasion of Việt Nam’s 73rd National Day, he wished Vietnamese people further successes in the cause of national construction. — VNS