Party General Secretary Nguyễn Phú Trọng (R) receives Lao Vice President Phankham Viphavanh yesterday. — Photo sggp.org.vn

HÀ NỘI — Party General Secretary Nguyễn Phú Trọng has described the official visit to Việt Nam by Lao Vice President Phankham Viphavanh as a significant contribution to deepening traditional friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between the two countries.

At a reception for Phankham Viphavanh in Hà Nội yesterday, the Party chief said Việt Nam strongly supports Laos’s renovation and believes that under the leadership of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party (LPRP), Laos will successfully implement the Resolution adopted at the 10th National Party Congress and build Laos into a country of peace, independence, democracy, unity, and prosperity towards socialism, particularly fulfilling the role of ASEAN Chair in 2016.
He extolled the remarkable achievements that Laos has gained over the past 30 years of renovation, and congratulated Phankham Viphavanh on his new election as Politburo member, Standing member of the LPRP Central Committee’s Secretariat and Vice President.
He highly valued the outcomes of the talks between the two countries’ high-level Party delegations and suggested the two sides enhance coordination to actively realise the agreements reached by the two Parties and States along with the Việt Nam – Lao Joint Statement issued in April 2016.
It is recommended for the two nations to increase information exchanges in Party building and socio-economic management; and deepen bilateral cooperation in politics, defence, security, economy, culture, education and science-technology, he said.
The Party chief urged the two sides to bolster collaboration at multilateral forums, especially within the framework of ASEAN and sub-regional cooperation mechanisms to help maintain peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region and beyond.
For his part, the Lao Vice President expressed his pleasure in visiting Vietnam for the first time since his election. He took the occasion to thank the Vietnamese Party, State and people for their invaluable assistance to Laos in the past and at present.
He confirmed that Laos will work together with Việt Nam to nurture the special rapport between the two countries and increase it to a new height for the sake of the two peoples.
He earlier held talks with Politburo member and standing member of the Secretariat of the Communist Party of Việt Nam Central Committee Đinh Thế Huynh and Vice President Đặng Thị Ngọc Thịnh, during which he confirmed that the Lao Party and State will closely coordinate with Việt Nam to implement effectively the Việt Nan – Lao Joint Statement issued in April 2016, as well as the cooperation agreements reached by the two Parties and States.

Meeting with Greek counterpart

Yesterday, Trọng also hosted the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) General Secretary Dimitrios Koutsoumpas in Hà Nội during his July 9-15 visit.

"The Communist Party of Việt Nam (CPV) wants to maintain and enhance relations with KKE, creating an important political base for bilateral rapport," he said.
Trọng thanked the KKE and Greek people for supporting Vietnamese national liberation and unification in the past - and for boosting and safeguarding the country’s current sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity.
The Party chief informed the guest about the outcomes of the 12th National Party Congress and the election of deputies to the 14th National Assembly and People’s Councils at all levels for 2016-2021.

He reiterated Việt Nam’s standing policy of prioritising relations with traditional friends while expanding ties with important political parties in other countries.
He hailed the KKE’s efforts to maintain its position within the political arena of Greece and Europe. He also acknowledged the KKE’s role in strengthening solidarity among parties in the international communist and worker movements.
The Party leader suggested the two sides push ahead with specific cooperation initiatives to deepen bilateral relations.
He highlighted the KKE’s viewpoint in addressing disputes in the East Sea , which actively contributes to maintaining peace and security in the region and world.
Trọng proposed the KKE persuade both the Greek Government and the National Assembly to support the settlement of disputes in the East Sea via peaceful means in line with international law, especially the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
For his part, Dimitrios Koutsoumpas expressed his pleasure at visiting Việt Nam for the first time and witnessing the country’s remarkable socioeconomic achievements over 30 years of “Doi Moi” (renewal). He described these Vietnamese accomplishments as an inspiration for Greek communists in their fight for peace, democracy and socialism around the world.
Regarding the East Sea issue, the KEE General Secretary affirmed the significance of respecting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of each nation and supporting the settlement of disputes through peaceful methods, in accordance with international law, including the 1982 UNLOS.— VNS