(VOVworld) - Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong on Wednesday held a banquet in Hanoi in honor of the visiting Lao President and Party leader Choummaly Sayasone.

Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong (right) receives Lao counterpart Choummaly Sayasone Photo: VNA

Mr. Trong said that over the past 50 years, the Vietnamese – Lao friendship has grown through the sweat and efforts of generations of Vietnamese and Lao leaders and people and has become an invaluable asset for both nations. Mr. Trong said ‘On behalf of the Vietnamese Party, Government, and people, we would like to express our deep gratitude to the Party, State, and people of Laos who have given great assistance to Vietnam’s struggle for national liberation, independence, and today’s national construction and protection. We commit ourselves to work with the Lao Party, Government, and people to protect these special ties and will do our best to consolidate and further develop them.’

Lao Party Secretary and President Choummaly Sayasone thanked Vietnam for its generous reception and expressed his pleasure at the fine outcomes of talks that took place in a faithful and friendly atmosphere. He said although Vietnam-Laos Friendship and Solidarity Year 2012 has concluded, the bilateral friendship, solidarity, and comprehensive cooperation will forever be in the hearts of Vietnamese and Lao peoples.