(VOVworld)- The General Secretary of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party and President of Laos Bounnhang Volachith begins an official 3-day visit to Vietnam on Monday. The visit is being made at the invitation of Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and President Tran Dai Quang.
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| Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and The General Secretary of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party and President of Laos Bounnhang Volachith |
During his talks with the Laotian guest in Hanoi on Monday after the welcoming ceremony, Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong said: "The Vietnamese Party, State and people are delighted to welcome the top leader and senior officials of the Lao Party and State, who are on an official friendly visit to Vietnam and bring us the deep sentiment of great friendship and the special, loyal and pure solidarity of Laos. Mr. Bounnhang Volachith’s visit is an important event taking place after the Party Congress in both nations and the election of the eighth Lao National Assembly. We believe that the visit will help elevate the relations between the two Parties and States to new heights”.
General Secretary of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party and President of Laos Bounnhang Volachith, said: “I strongly believe that my visit to Vietnam will show an ardent aspiration and unswerving will of the Lao Party, State and people to promote the Laos - Vietnam traditional relationship. The visit will contribute to nurturing the great friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between two parties and states created by President Ho Chi Minh, President Kaysone Phomvihane and President Souphanouvong and inherited by generations of leaders, revolutionaries and people of the two countries”.
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| Talks between the two leaders |
At the talks, both leaders exchanged views on measures to efficiently implement agreements between the two Parties and countries in 2016 and the subsequent years.
Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and Lao Party and State leader Bounnhang Volachith pledged to do their utmost to nurture their countries’ special ties. They agreed to uphold the spirit of independence, self-reliance, equal cooperation and mutual assistance for each other’s prosperity and for peace, stability, cooperation and development in Southeast Asia and the world. Both sides stressed the need to continue improving the quality of exchange programs on party building, and coordinate closely in organizing events to mark the 55
th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic ties and the 40
th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty on Friendship and Cooperation in 2017. The two leaders agreed to continue to work closely together on regional and global issues, and at multi-lateral forums, contribute to the ASEAN community, cooperate with other countries and organizations in management and the sustainable use of water resources in the Mekong river and effectively implement joint projects in the development triangle of Laos-Vietnam-Cambodia. Vietnam strongly supports and shares its experiences with Laos, which holds the Presidency of ASEAN this year. Regarding the East Sea issue, both sides expressed concerns over ongoing tensions and emphasized the importance of peace, stability and safety in the East Sea. They agreed to settle disputes by peaceful means and in accordance with international law; together with concerned parties implement fully and efficiently the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea and will soon achieve the Code of Conduct of Parties for peace, stability and development in the region and the world.
The same day, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc met with the Lao Party General Secretary and President Bounnhang Volachit. Phuc said the Vietnamese government will closely work with the Lao government to foster the friendship and cooperation between the two countries. Phuc asked the two sides to strengthen solidarity, increase cooperation at regional and global forums, especially with the ASEAN cooperative framework, and contribute to peace and stability to promote development, maintain ASEAN’s common voice in addressing essential problems in the region including the East Sea issue and the management and sustainable use of water resources in the Mekong.
At a meeting with the Laotian leader in Hanoi on Monday, Vietnamese National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan urged the two countries to increase cooperation and exchange information and experience in legislation, supervision and deciding major national issues. The Lao leader said he hoped the two countries’ legislatures would increase bilateral cooperation.
Also that day, Vietnamese Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong held a banquet in honor of the Lao Party and State leader the Lao delegation.