HÀ NỘI – General Secretary of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party and President of Laos, Bounnhang Volachith, said that the visit to Việt Nam 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 Việt Nam.

The Lao Party leader made the remarks during his talks with Party General Secretary Nguyễn Phú Trọng following his arrival in Hà Nội today to begin his three-day official friendly visit to Việt Nam.

The visit is made at the invitation of the Vietnamese Party leader and President Trần Đại Quang.

Trọng 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.

Volachith, for his part, congratulated Trọng on his re-election as General Secretary of the Communist Party of Việt Nam (CPV) for 2016-21 period.

Việt Nam 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.

Visit shows Laos’ priority

The ongoing visit to Việt Nam by General Secretary of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party and President of Laos, Bounnhang Volachith, demonstrates that the country treasures its ties with Việt Nam.

The statement was made by Sunthone Sayachak, head of the Lao Party Central Committee’s Commission for External Relations, in an interview with Vietnam News Agency.

The Vietnamese and Lao Parties, States and people boast a time-honoured relationship, fostered by Presidents Hồ Chí Minh, Kaysone Phomvihane and Souphanouvong, and strengthened by generations of officials, soldiers and people of the two countries over the past decades, she said.

Despite the difficulties facing each nation, bilateral cooperation has thrived, the official stressed.

Regarding bilateral collaboration, Sayachak said political ties have served as a foundation for their affiliation in other fields.

Apart from security, national defence and foreign affairs, the two countries’ cooperation in investment, economy and trade has made big strides, she said, noting that Việt Nam is now one of Laos’ leading investors with total registered capital of US$4.9 billion.

Cooperation in the sphere of human resource d evelopment is also noteworthy, where the Lao side highly values Việt Nam’s support to the country, she said.

Many Lao officials, who have received training organised in Việt Nam, hold key positions in the country’s Party, State and Government at both grassroots and central levels.

Sayachak said during his Việt Nam’s visit, from April 25-27, the Lao Party General Secretary and President is due to hold meetings with Vietnamese leaders, during which the two sides will affirm their goodwill and desire to enhance bilateral cooperation and friendship. — VNS