President Võ Văn Thưởng and President of the Lao Front for National Construction (LFNC) Central Committee Sinlavong Khoutphaythoune had talks on Monday. — VNA/VNS Photo Thống Nhất

VIENTIANE — President Võ Văn Thưởng expressed his delight at the growing special solidarity between Việt Nam and Laos during a reception in Vientiane on Monday for President of the Lao Front for National Construction (LFNC) Central Committee Sinlavong Khoutphaythoune.

President Thưởng hailed cooperation between LFNC Central Committee and Vietnam Fatherland Front (VFF) Central Committee as well as Vietnamese partners over the past years, especially the signing of a cooperation agreement for the 2022-2026 period.

He said both sides had regularly maintained the exchange of delegations at all levels via different channels while locality-to-locality and people-to-people exchanges had been further deepened.

To build on the positive effects of the Việt Nam-Laos, Laos-Việt Nam Solidarity and Friendship Year 2022, the Vietnamese leader suggested that the LFNC Central Committee work closely with Việt Nam to effectively realise cooperation agreements in areas such as front, mass mobilisation, religious and ethnic affairs, and raise public awareness of the tradition of Việt Nam-Laos special relationship.

On the occasion of Laos' traditional New Year festival Bunpimay, he wished the LFNC Central Committee and its President success and development, continuing to make positive contributions to preserving and upholding Việt Nam-Laos special relationship.

Sinlavong Khoutphaythoune, for his part, expressed his joy when President Thưởng chose Laos as the first country to pay an official visit after assuming his new position.

He affirmed that he always remembered and was grateful for the valuable assistance that the Vietnamese Party, State and people offered to Laos in the past struggle for national liberation and the current national construction and development.

The Lao official vowed to continue working closely with the VFF Central Committee to build on the success of Việt Nam-Laos, Laos-Việt Nam Solidarity and Friendship Year 2022.

He also promised to raise awareness of Lao people, especially young generations, about the Laos-Việt Nam special relations while partnering with Lao agencies to offer all possible support to the Vietnamese living and working in the country.

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President Võ Văn Thưởng had a meeting with Laos-Việt Nam Friendship Association (LVFA) Boviengkham Vongdala on Monday. — VNA/VNS Photo Thống Nhất

​Receiving President of the Laos-Việt Nam Friendship Association (LVFA) Boviengkham Vongdala the same day, President Thưởng hailed diverse cooperation between Laos-Việt Nam and Việt Nam-Laos Friendship Associations over the past year, including the active and effective contribution of the LVFA to the success of the Việt Nam-Laos, Laos-Việt Nam Solidarity and Friendship Year 2022.

He suggested the two associations continue working closely together to hold people-to-people exchanges, thus connecting the two peoples together, especially young generations.

Boviengkham Vongdala, in reply, said in his capacity as Lao Minister of Science and Technology, he initiated cooperation activities with Vietnamese partners, including building a Vietnamese teaching centre and launching projects nurturing bilateral friendship.

He stressed that the LVFA would continue partnering with the Việt Nam-Laos Friendship Association to uphold the success of the Việt Nam-Laos, Laos-Việt Nam Solidarity and Friendship Year 2022.

It would also further step up awareness campaigns among Lao people, especially young generations, to further deepen the great friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between the two Parties, States and peoples. — VNS