Le Thanh Hai, secretary of the City Party Committee, led a high ranking delegation to visit Laos on June 28 to attend ‘Ho Chi Minh City Days in Vientiane’ within the framework of ‘Year of Friendship between Laos and Vietnam’.
The delegation attended the inauguration of the Vientiane-HCMC Friendship High School that has been upgraded at a cost of US$5 million.
Vientiane Mayor, Soukanh Mahalath and Ambassador of Vietnam in Laos, Ta Minh Chau were also present at the ceremony.
Mr. Hai said the upgrading of the Vientiane-HCMC Friendship High School is a gift from the HCMC people to Vientiane.
The delegation also paid a courtesy visit to Pani Zathotou, chairwoman of the Laos’ National Assembly.
At their meeting, the Lao NA leader said she was impressed with ‘Ho Chi Minh City Days in Vientiane’ and congratulated Vietnam for the achievements it has made over the past years.
After expressing thanks for Vietnam’s support to Laos, Pani Zathotou said that the Lao Party, Government, National Assembly and Lao people will do their utmost to foster the friendship between the two countries.
She said she hopes that HCMC and Vientiane will continue to strengthen cooperation to make for stronger ties in the future.
On his part, secretary Hai said that HCMC will always pay special attention to boost cooperation with Laos in all aspects, thus promoting the traditional friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and Laos.
He expressed his joy when he witnessed the quick changes in this ‘Million Elephants’ beautiful country and hoped that the Lao People's Tribes, under the wise leadership of the People’s Revolutionary Party of Laos will build a successful and prosperous Laos, promoting a stronger role and position in the international arena.
Mr. Hai said the HCMC People's Party always and consistently appreciated the friendship and special solidarity between the two parties, the Government and people of both countries who will continue to do their best to strengthen and develop friendly relations between Vietnam and Laos in general and HCMC and Vientiane in particular.
Earlier on June 27, Mr. Hai held talks with Soukan Mahalath, mayor of Vientiane and secretary of the Party Committee, to discuss ways to boost bilateral ties.
At their talks, the two leaders expressed pleasure at the recent developments in HCMC-Vientiane cooperation and the regular exchange of delegations.
Several other joint activities such as providing free medical check-ups and medicines for poor people, holding training courses in agricultural technical transfers and presenting gifts to families in difficulties have all helped to increase the mutual understanding between the two cities.
In the future, both cities will pay more attention to boost businesses, by organizing trade fairs, updating information on projects calling for investments and creating better conditions for businesses to boost investment cooperation.
Later on the same day, a seminar to promote HCMC investments and tourism in Vientiane opened in the Laotian capital. On behalf of President Truong Tan Sang, the HCMC Party Committee’s secretary presented Vietnam State’s orders and medals to several Laotian agencies and individuals.
On this occasion, the delegation visited Mr. Phanhdouangchith Vongsa, former Politburo member and Mr. Sisavat Keobunphan, former Chairman of the Central Committee of the Lao Front for national reconstruction.
On the same day, the HCMC delegation visited the Vietnamese Embassy and the General Association of Vietnamese in Laos.
In this cozy atmosphere, Mr. Le Thanh Hai expressed appreciation of the work of the Embassy and believed Vietnam’s Embassy in Laos will continue to be a reliable bridge for creating business efficiency between HCMC and Vietnam with their Lao counterparts.
The HCMC Party Committee Secretary hoped Laos would help remove difficulties for enterprises such as price of land, labor, legal procedures, infrastructure, etc, and support Vietnamese businesses to invest and do business in Laos.
He believed that the General Association of Vietnamese in Laos would continue to monitor and support the cooperation projects, the effectiveness of Vietnamese living and working in Vientiane, Champasak, Attapeu, Savannaket, Luang Phrabang and improve better living and working conditions and maintain close links with their motherland.
