General Secretary of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party (LPRP) and President of Laos Bounnhang Vorachith. — VNA/VNS Photo Phương Hoa

HÀ NỘI — General Secretary of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party (LPRP) and President of Laos Bounnhang Vorachith and his spouse are on a visit to Việt Nam from July 3-7 at the invitation of General Secretary of the Communist Party of Việt Nam (CPV) Nguyễn Phú Trọng and President Trần Đại Quang. 

On the first day of his trip, Bounnhang Vorachith held talks with Trọng as well as meetings with Quang, Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc, and Chairwoman of the National Assembly Nguyễn Thị Kim Ngân. 

During the meetings, the two sides reaffirmed and emphasised the strategic importance of the traditional friendship, special solidarity, and comprehensive cooperation between Việt Nam and Laos, which have been long nurtured and strengthened by late Vietnamese President Hồ Chí Minh, Lao Presidents Kayson Phomvihan and Souphanouvong, and generations of leaders and people of the two countries. 

They congratulated each other on recent significant accomplishments in the two nations, especially after the two-year implementation of the Resolution of the 12th National Congress of the CPV, and the Resolution adopted by the 10th National Congress of the LPRP. They expressed a strong belief that under the leadership of the CPV and LPRP, the two countries will reap more successes in pursuit of prosperity and a bigger role on the world stage. 

They were also delighted at the recent progress of relations between the two Parties and States in all areas, particularly the success of the Việt Nam-Laos and Laos-Việt Nam Friendship and Solidarity Year 2017, which laid the foundations for the two sides to further tighten and enhance the traditional friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation. 

The two sides also discussed ways to effectively develop bilateral ties in all fields, contributing to the success of each Party’s policies and each country’s development strategies in the spirit of independence, self-reliance, and equal and mutually-beneficial cooperation for prosperity of each country, as well as for peace, stability, co-operation, and development in Southeast Asia and the world. 

They agreed to continue working together closely to effectively implement agreements reached by the two nations’ leaders; step up cooperation in diplomacy, security, and defence; and maintain the regular exchange of high-ranking visits. They also consented to foster education and awareness of special relations between Việt Nam and Laos among their people, particularly younger generations. 

The Lao leader took the occasion to express his sympathy with the Vietnamese people on huge losses in human life and property caused by flash floods and landslides in the country’s northern provinces last month. 

Trọng and his spouse hosted a banquet in honour of Bounnhang Vorachith, his spouse and the Lao delegation. — VNS