Deputy Prime Minister Trịnh Đình Dũng (Third from left) and his Lao counterpart Sonsay Siphandone witness a signing ceremony during his visit to Lao yesterday. — VNA/VNS Photo Phạm Kiên

VIENTIANE  – Deputy Prime Minister Trịnh Đình Dũng and his Lao counterpart Sonsay Siphandone agreed to place highest priority on fostering traditional friendship and special solidarity between Việt Nam and Laos at their talks in Vientiane yesterday.
At the talks, held during Deputy PM Dũng’s visit to Laos from October 5-6, the Vietnamese Deputy PM expressed his belief that the Lao Party, government and people will successfully realise the resolution adopted by the 10th National Party Congress and the five-year socio-economic development plan for 2016-2020.
The two sides agreed to organise grand celebrations of the 55th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties and the 40th anniversary of the  Việt Nam-Laos Treaty of Amity and Cooperation next year.
They vowed to continue realising the agreements and the outcomes of the 38th meeting of the Inter-Governmental Committee on Bilateral Cooperation, the Việt Nam-Laos cooperation agreement for 2016-2020 and the Joint Declaration issued during Lao Party General Secretary and President Bounnhang Volachith’s visit to Việt Nam.
The two officials reached consensus on making thorough preparations for the upcoming 39th meeting of the Inter-Governmental Committee on Bilateral Co-operation, adding that the two countries will continue facilitating high-level visits and exchanges, as well as the sharing of experience in socio-economic development in each country.
To further enhance economic links, the two sides will discuss measures to remove difficulties for Vietnamese investment in Laos, while reviewing the implementation of cooperation agreements in the fields of energy, mineral resources and industry, in order to make timely adjustments to those agreements.
Concluding the talks, the host and his guest signed an agreement between the two governments on developing power projects in Laos and electricity purchases until 2030. They also witnessed the signing of four agreements between relevant agencies and localities.
The same day, Deputy PM Dũng paid courtesy calls to Lao Party General Secretary and President Bounhang Volachith and Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith.
The Lao leaders hailed the two countries’ ministries, agencies, localities and businesses for carrying out agreements.
They conveyed thanks to the Vietnamese Party, Government and people for their valuable support in Laos’ national liberation in the past, as well as present national development.VNS