President Trần Đại Quang (R) receives Lao Vice President Phankham Viphavanh in Hà Nội yesterday. — VNA/VNS Photo

HÀ NỘI — The ongoing official visit to Việt Nam by Lao Vice President Phankham Viphavanh will actively contribute to reinforcing and developing the special rapport and solidarity between Việt Nam and Laos, President Trần Đại Quang said at a reception for the guest in Hà Nội yesterday. 

The President hailed the outcomes of the talks between Phankham Viphavanh and Politburo member and permanent member of the Communist Party of Việt Nam (CPV) Central Committee’s Secretariat Đinh Thế Huynh and Vice President Đặng Thị Ngọc Thịnh. 

He suggested the two countries work together to successfully implement the bilateral co-operation agreement for 2016-2020 and the collaboration plan between the Vietnamese and Lao governments in 2016. 

Both nations should continue to carry out effectively agreements reached at the annual meeting of senior officials from the two Politburos in December 2015, as well as the outcomes of the 38th session of the intergovernmental committee on Việt Nam-Laos bilateral co-operation and visits by their top leaders, he said. 

President Quang urged the two sides to realise the protocol on defence and security collaboration for 2016-2020 and the bilateral border trade agreement, while promoting energy and transport connectivity. 

Việt Nam and Laos were also expected to jointly hold numerous activities to celebrate the 55th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic ties and 40 years of the signing of the Việt Nam–Laos Amity and Co-operation Treaty, he added. 

The State leader congratulated the Lao Party, State and people on their achievements over the past number of years, saying he believed Laos would successfully implement the Resolution adopted at the 10th National Party Congress and the 8th five-year social-economic development plan. 

He took this occasion to thank Laos for valuable support to Việt Nam in the past and at present, confirming that the Vietnamese Party, State and people would always attach much importance to preserving and cementing the special relations with Laos. 

President Quang highly valued the active contributions of the Laos-Việt Nam Friendship Association, and Phankham Viphavanh in particular as former Chairman of the association, to encouraging Lao people to nurture relations with Việt Nam. 

For his part, Phankham Viphavanh, who is also Politburo member and standing member of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party Central Committee’s Secretariat, applauded co-operation achievements between the two nations in the past, saying that they had contributed significantly to the national construction and development of the Lao people. 
He confirmed to do his utmost in his new positions to tighten the special amity and solidarity between the two countries for the sake of their people. — VNS