(VOV) - Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong warmly welcomed his Lao counterpart Choummaly Sayasone who arrived in Hanoi on Wednesday for an official visit to Vietnam. The two leaders held talks shortly after the welcoming ceremony. Trong said: “Your visit is an important political event in the Vietnam-Laos Friendship and Solidarity Year, showing the pure and faithful friendship and close bond between the two Parties, States and peoples of Vietnam and Laos.”
Sayasone, who is also President of Laos, said: “We strongly believe that this Vietnam visit helps uphold the glorious tradition of the great friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between Laos and Vietnam. This is also an occasion for us to review activities marking the Laos-Vietnam Friendship and Solidarity Year 2012”.
Both sides vowed to maintain and develop this special relationship founded and nurtured by later President Ho Chi Minh of Vietnam and late President Kaysone Phomvihan of Laos and their successors, considering this a key factor in ensuring the success of the revolutionary cause in their respective countries. This special relationship is an invaluable asset which should be maintained and developed by the two countries’ young generations, they said.
They agreed to strengthen bilateral comprehensive cooperation, especially in economics, education-training, national defence-security, and diplomacy.
The same day, President Truong Tan Sang received Choummaly Sayasone, General Secretary of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party (LPRP) and President. Sang said the traditional friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and Laos is an invaluable asset that should be maintained and developed in the future.
Sayasone said following the success of the friendship year, the Lao Party and State will discuss orientations to bring bilateral relationship to a new height.
Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung and National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung met the Lao top leader at separate receptions in Hanoi on Wednesday.