(VOVworld) State President Truong Tan Sang has begun a three-day official visit to Laos at the invitation of General Secretary of the Lao People’s Revolution Party Standing Committee and President Chummaly Sayasone. The visit aims to enhance the traditional relationship, special unity, and comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and Laos. This is the curtain raising event to mark the Vietnam – Laos Solidarity and Friendship Year 2012.

President Truong Tan Sang arrives in Laos

President Truong Tan Sang’s visit to Laos confirms the unswerving policy of Vietnam to treasure and enhance the special solidarity and friendship and comprehensive cooperation with the neighboring nation.

Bilateral relations have been continuously enhanced and promoted in various fields. In recent years, almost all leaders of the Party, Government, and National Assembly of both nations have conducted reciprocal visits. Worthy of note were last year’s visits to Vietnam by President Chummaly Sayasone, Prime Minister Thongsinh Thammavong, and National Assembly Chairman Pany Yathotu and Vietnamese Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung's visits to Laos. They have reinforced trust and bonds between the two nations. Phankham Viphavan, President of the Laos – Vietnam Friendship Association, says: "Such special relations between Laos and Vietnam are found nowhere else in the world. Our leaders have paid special care to improving the younger generation’s understanding of the two nations’ traditional relations. The project on the traditional relations between Vietnam and Laos has contributed practically to enhancing the awareness of the two countries’ peoples of the two nations’ loyal and close ties."

2012 is observed as Vietnam–Laos Solidarity and Friendship Year, which also marks the 50^th anniversary of diplomatic ties and 35 years of the Vietnam–Laos Friendship Agreement. Vietnam has established a national steering committee on “Vietnam–Laos Solidarity Year” with various activities to be held nationwide. Vu Xuan Hong, Chairman of the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations says: "The two Friendship Organizations should actively prepare for the celebration. Everybody should promote their responsibility to preserve and develop Vietnam–Laos relations." 

The two countries have striven to raise 2-way trade revenue from 700 million USD last year to 1 billion USD this year, and 2 billion USD by 2015. Vietnam will accelerate investment projects in Laos, focusing on banking, finance, and rubber plantation, contributing to social security and poverty reduction in Laos.

The two countries are determined to complete the building of border markers along the borderline by 2014, and ensure the progress of the 2E transnational road project to serve the operation of Vung Ang port in Vietnam. The project to improve the quality and efficiency of education and human resources development cooperation until 2020 has been signed, creating conditions for Vietnamese and Lao students  to  study in each country.

President Truong Tan Sang’s visit to Laos is a milestone event, which opens a series of activities in Vietnam–Lao Solidarity and Friendship Year. In addition to high-level talks and meetings to strengthen cooperation in politics, national security, external affairs, trade, investment, education and culture, President Sang will attend the inauguration of the Vietinbank branch, and the ground breaking ceremony of the Confederation of the Vietnamese community in Laos, and visit some facilities built by the Hoang Anh Gia Lai Group. The visit will further enhance the traditional and loyal relations between both nations, and confirm Vietnam’s consistent policy of treasuring the special solidarity and friendship with Laos.