A meeting to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Vietnam-Laos diplomatic ties and the 35 years since the signing of the Friendship and Cooperation Treaty was held solemnly in Vientiane on July 18.

The event was attended by top Lao leaders, including Party General Secretary and State President Chummaly Sayasone, Prime Minister Thongsing Thammavong, National Assembly Chairwoman Pany Yathotou.

The Vietnamese delegation was led by Politburo member and permanent member of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee Secretariat Le Hong Anh.

In his speech, Party General Secretary and State President Chummaly Sayasone affirmed the event is a vivid manifestation of the great, close and traditional friendship between the two countries.

During the long history, the two countries always stood side-by-side, loved and believed each other, he said, affirming that this is the root of the special friendship which is very rare in the world, the decisive factor for the victory of the two countries’ revolutions.

The Lao Party, State and people are proud that they have done all their best to make their contribution to the common victory of the struggle for national liberation and unification of both countries, said the Lao leader.

Despite the complicated developments in the region and the world, the Vietnam-Laos traditional relations have been nurtured, consolidated and unceasingly developed with higher quality and effectiveness, he added.

Chummaly Sayasone said the celebration of important events between the two countries tightened the great friendship, military alliance and special solidarity between the two countries, and also act as a foundation to strengthen the comprehensive cooperation between the two Parties, States and people in the new period.

He also congratulated Vietnam’s achievements during more than 25 years of renewal process, expressing his belief that under the leadership of the Communist Party of Vietnam, the country will realise its targets of “ a strong country with wealthy people, and democratic, just and civilised society.”

He asked the two countries to make the Vietnam-Laos, Laos-Vietnam Friendship Year a landmark for the comprehensive cooperation between the two nations.

For his part, Le Hong Anh stated that the Vietnam-Laos special solidarity is a common treasure and an important factor that ensure the success of each country’s revolution as well as an important element that contributes to maintaining peace, stability, cooperation and development in Southeast Asia and the world at large.

Anh expressed thanks to the Lao Party, State, Front and people for their support to Vietnam’s revolution.

He said he believes that Lao will make greater achievements and raise the position in the region and the world.-VNA