HÀ NỘI — Party General Secretary Nguyễn Phú Trọng welcomed Lao Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith in Hà Nội yesterday, and underlined the visit’s significance to deepening the friendship, solidarity and co-operation between the two countries. 

He congratulated Laos on its remarkable achievements over the past 30 years of renovation as well as the successful 10th Congress of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party (LPRP) and elections of deputies to the 8th National Assembly. 

The Party leader conveyed his congratulations to Thongloun Sisoulith on his election as the new Lao PM, confirming that Việt Nam supported the Lao renovation and believed that under the leadership of the LPRP and the Lao Government, the Lao people would continue to reap significant achievements, implement successfully the Resolution adopted at the 10th Congress and the five-year social-economic development plan, and build Laos into a country of peace, independence, democracy, unity and prosperity. 

He suggested the two Governments co-ordinate in directing ministries, localities and businesses to realise the outcomes of the visit to Việt Nam by Lao General Secretary and President Bounnhang Volachit and the co-operation contents agreed at the 38th session of Việt Nam-Laos intergovernmental committee. 

The two sides were expected to increase the exchange of information and experience in Party building and socio-economic management, enhance collaboration in security-defence and external affairs, and promptly extricate difficulties to ensure the progress of Việt Nam’s investments in Laos, he said. 

He urged both nations to increase two-way trade and forge links in economics, transport infrastructure and energy; while improving the quality of education, training and human resources. 

The Lao PM expressed his delight to visit Việt Nam in his new position. He extended the best regards from Lao General Secretary and President Bounnhang Volachit to the Vietnamese Party chief and congratulated Việt Nam on its significant attainments in the đổi mới (renewal) process. 

He was confident that under the leadership of the Communist Party of Việt Nam (CPV), Vietnamese people would soon become a modern and industrialised society. 

He thanked Việt Nam for the assistance given to Laos in the past and at present. 
The Lao PM informed the host about the outcomes of his talks with Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc and other Vietnamese leaders. 

He confirmed that the Lao Government would work with their Vietnamese counterparts to implement the contents of the Việt Nam-Laos Joint Statement issued in April 2016. 

Both host and guest expressed their delight at the thriving friendship, solidarity and co-operation between Việt Nam and Laos, which not only benefits people in the respective countries but also contributes to peace, stability, co-operation and development in the region and the world.

Also yesterday, the Lao leader met with HCM City’s Party Committee Secretary, Đinh La Thăng, and other leaders of the city.

Meeting top legislator

In a meeting with Vietnamese NA Chairwoman Nguyễn Thị Kim Ngân earlier on Sunday, the Lao PM suggested that the National Assembly (NA) of Việt Nam and Laos should continue implementing high-ranking co-operation agreements between the two countries. 

The Lao guest called for Việt Nam’s assistance for his country to complete its ASEAN Chairmanship in 2016. 

He affirmed that he would do his best to realise the contents of the Việt Nam-Laos Joint Statement, which was signed on Lao Party General Secretary and President Bounnhang Volachit’s recent visit to Việt Nam.

Thongloun Sisoulith also wished that Việt Nam would hold the upcoming 14th NA and all-level People’s Council elections successfully.

NA Chairwoman Ngân asserted that Việt Nam was willing to help Laos in its role of 2016 ASEAN Chair, adding that she would do her utmost to promote relations between the two nations and legislative bodies. 

The Vietnamese top legislator expressed her hope that the two legislatures would further enhance links and experience sharing. 

The two agencies should also boost their monitoring related to investment and co-operation projects between the two countries, Ngân stated. 

She took the occasion to thank the Lao Party and Government for their decision to increase the water discharge at hydropower dams built on the Mekong River in order help tackle Việt Nam’s water shortage, and Laos’ recent support to help Việt Nam’s southern localities overcome consequences and damages caused by prolonged-droughts and saline intrusion. — VNS