HÀ NỘI – President Trần Đại Quang and Party General Secretary and President of Laos Bounnhang Volachith discussed ways to intensify bilateral ties in the foreseeable future during their meeting in Hà Nội yesterday.
Both sides agreed to effectively realise agreements reached by senior leaders and a co-operation deal made by the 38th meeting of the Việt Nam-Laos Inter-governmental Committee.
General Secretary Volachith affirmed that the Lao Party, State and people will do their best, together with their Vietnamese counterparts, to deepen their traditional friendship and comprehensive solidarity.
On the occasion, he also invited the host to visit Laos in the future.
President Quang said the two countries should raise public awareness of the bilateral special relationship and further promote economic, trade and investment links on the basis of each country’s potential and strength. Việt Nam and Laos will celebrate the 55th anniversary of their diplomatic ties, and the 40th anniversary of the signing of the Việt Nam-Laos Treaty of Friendship and Co-operation, next year.
The host spoke highly of mutual support at multilateral forums over the past period and vowed to help Laos fulfil its role as ASEAN Chair this year.
He also asked for Laos’ support regarding the East Sea issue, as well as the sustainable and effective use and management of water resources in the Mekong River.
The leader took the occasion to thank the Lao Party, State and people for helping Viet Nam with recovery efforts related to the current severe drought and saline intrusion in the Mekong Delta and Central Highlands, which he said vividly reflects the special solidarity between Viet Nam and Laos.
He also promised to visit Laos in the near future.
In a joint statement issued during the visit to Việt Nam by General Secretary Volachith as the top Party and State leader, both sides underscored their traditional friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive co-operation, calling it an invaluable asset of the two Parties and nations.
They committed to reinforcing their bilateral coordination on the basis of upholding independence, self-reliance, and fair and mutually-beneficial co-operation for the sake of peace, stability and development in Southeast Asia and the world.
The host and guest also pledged to boost national defence-security links and reached a consensus on regional and global issues of shared concern, including the East Sea issue.

Visit to National Academy of Politics

Lao Party General Secretary and President Bounnhang Volachith yesterday visited the Hồ Chí Minh National Academy of Politics (NPA) as part of his official friendly visit to Việt Nam.

At a working session with the academy’s officials, lecturers and students, the Lao leader said his visit aimed to further enhance the great friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between Việt Nam and Laos, which were fostered by Presidents Hồ Chí Minh, Kaysone Phomvihane and Souphanouvong, and preserved by the two countries’ revolutionary soldiers and people.

He thanked the academy for its assistance in training Lao officials, saying almost all those who received training at the school are now holding important positions in the country.

These officials served as a bridge promoting the traditional friendship and special solidarity, the guest noted.

NPA Director Nguyễn Xuân Thắng said about 400 Lao officials studied at the academy each year. After graduating, they made noted contributions to national construction and development in their homeland as well as in bilateral relations.

The academy would continue to regard the training of Lao leaders, managers and researchers as its most important political task, he said, promising to improve training quality and create the best possible conditions for the Lao members to fulfill their missions.

Earlier, Bounnhang Volachith paid a floral tribute to President Hồ Chí Minh at his mausoleum and laid wreaths at the Monument to Heroic Martyrs in Hà Nội.

Delegation meeting

Party General Secretary and President of Laos Bounnhang Volachith met in Hà Nội yesterday with delegations from the Việt Nam – Laos Friendship Association (VLFA) and the Liaison Board for the Association of Former Vietnamese Volunteer Soldiers and Experts in Laos.
Speaking on Laos’ achievements since its renewal, Volachith said Việt Nam had given substantial assistance through the VLFA, and generations of Vietnamese military experts and soldiers.
Laos was determined to foster its solidarity and comprehensive co-operation with Việt Nam, he said.
VLFA Chairman Vũ Trọng Kim and Huỳnh Đắc Hường, head of the liaison board, vowed to nurture the relationship by educating younger generations about the countries’ co-operation in the past.
They expressed hope that under the leadership of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party led by Volachith, Laos would reap more successes in its national construction and defence, and their relationship would grow. — VNS