On June 19, Secretary General of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party (LPRP) and Lao President Choummaly Sayasone arrived at Ha Noi for an official friendly visit.
He was warmly welcomed by Secretary General of the Vietnamese Communist Party Nong Duc Manh and President Tran Duc Luong.
This is Mr. Sayasone’s first foreign visit in his capacity as Secretary General of the LPRP Central Committee and Lao President.
The visit is to take place in the context of the success of the LPRP’s eighth congress in March 2006 and the Lao people’s active implementation of the five-year (2006-2010) socio-economic development plan.
By choosing Viet Nam as the first country to visit, Lao President stressed the Viet Nam-Laos co-operation relationship is always of great significance.
Through the visit, the two countries are expected to discuss measures to accelerate bilateral ties, especially the 45th anniversary of Viet Nam-Laos diplomatic ties and the 30th anniversary of the signing of the Viet Nam-Laos Friendship Treaty, and exchange views on regional and international issues of mutual concern.
The traditional friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive co-operation between Viet Nam and Laos have been well developed, consolidated and enhanced on many levels.
Regular exchanges between the two parties’ leaders have helped shape orientations to develop their relationship. The two sides have forged bilateral co-operation in all domains under the co-operation agreements reached at high levels and between ministries and branches.
Mechanisms for high-level meetings between the two Parties’ and States’ leaders have been maintained, such as the annual meeting of the Viet Nam-Laos Intergovernmental Committee.
Both countries have closely co-operated in international and regional forums, particularly in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the Mekong sub-region, and the working group on the development of the border areas of Viet Nam, Laos and Cambodia.
On the same day, in a meeting between Viet Nam Prime Minister Phan Van Khai and Lao President Choummaly Sayasone, the two sides expressed their determination to boost trade and accelerate bilateral trade turnover.
The two sides are to implement incentive policies for investors, reduce 50 percent of import duties for products of the two countries and build economic zones and markets in border areas.
On this occasion, Viet Nam President Tran Duc Luong conferred Viet Nam’s highest distinction of the Gold Star Order on Lao President Choummaly Sayasone.
