(VOVworld) – President Truong Tan Sang held talks with Laos’ Prime Minister Thoongsin Thammavong and National Assembly Chairman Pany Dathotu on Tuesday as part of his visit to Laos. During talks with the Lao Prime Minister he said that the Vietnamese Party, state and people treasured the relationship between the two countries.

They discussed measures to implement signed agreements and the agreement of the 37^th session of the Vietnam-Laos inter-governmental committee. They agreed to quickly create policies to facilitate trade and investment between the two countries in the hope of 2 billion USD in bilateral trade this year. The Prime Minister pledged to accelerate Vietnamese investment projects in the areas of transport and energy in Laos. The two also agreed to foster cooperation in national defense, security, and crime prevention as well as step up border marker planting this year, helping to develop a border of friendship between the two countries. President Sang proposed that Laos help the Vietnamese community to integrate into Lao society and its economy. The leaders also discussed a number of regional and global issues and agreed to strengthen cooperation at multilateral forums. President Sang said that Vietnam supported Laos hosting the ASEAN Presidency in 2016

During talks with the Lao National Assembly chairman, the leaders agreed to maintain visit exchanges and increase the sharing of information and experience in parliamentary matters. They also agreed to increase parliamentary supervision of investment projects between the two countries and to boost cooperation in personnel training.

President Sang appreciated Mr. Pany Yathotu’s official visit to Vietnam to attend IPU 132, considering it an important contribution to the event’s success and the special Vietnamese-Lao friendship.