(VOVworld) – President Truong Tan Sang returned to Hanoi on Wednesday from an official visit to Laos, which helped to consolidate the special friendship and comprehensive cooperation between the two countries. During his visit, President Sang held talks with the Lao Party General Secretary and President Choummaly Sayason and met with Prime Minister Thongsing Thammavong and National Assembly Chairman Pany Yathotu.

The two sides expressed their determination to deepen bilateral ties and agreed to continue visit exchanges and boost cooperation in the areas of national defense and security. They agreed to enhance the outcomes of the 37^th session of the Vietnam-Laos intergovernmental committee. The signing of a new trade agreement will help to bring two-way trade to 2 billion USD this year, up 40% from last year. The leaders agreed to discuss and develop a border trade agreement this year and complete a master plan for border trade between the two countries until 2020 with a vision to 2025. They also discussed the maintenance of peace and stability in the East Sea and the sustainable use of water from the Mekong river including the building of hydro-power plants on this river.

Earlier President Sang visited the Vietnamese embassy staff, the Lao-Viet Bank, and the Vietnamese business community in Laos. He also met with the President of the Laos-Vietnam Friendship Association, Minister of Education and Sports Phankham Viphavanh. He urged the association to further promote people-to-people exchanges, contributing to the special friendship between the two countries.

Laos’ major newspapers have headlined Vietnamese President Truong Tan Sang’s visit from March 23 to 25. Laos’ news agency KPL said that Lao leaders appreciated the visit and said it contributed significantly to strengthening friendship and comprehensive cooperation between the two Parties, states, and peoples. The newspapers praised the special relationship during the period of the two countries’ history under the wise leadership of the Communist Party of Vietnam and the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party.