President meets Lao top leader

Hanoi (VNA) – President Tran Dai Quang and Party General Secretary and President of Laos Bounnhang Volachith discussed ways to intensify bilateral ties in the foreseeable future during their meeting in Hanoi on April 26.

Both sides agreed to effectively realise agreements reached by senior leaders and a cooperation deal set by the 38 th meeting of the Vietnam-Laos Inter-governmental Committee.

Volachith affirmed that the Lao Party, State and people will do their best, together with their Vietnamese counterparts, to deepen the bilateral traditional friendship and comprehensive solidarity.

On the occasion, he also invited the host to visit Laos in the coming time.

President Quang, for his part, said the two countries should raise public awareness of the bilateral relationship and further promote links across the economy, trade and investment on the basis of each country’s potentials and strength, given that Vietnam and Laos will celebrate the 55 th anniversary of their diplomatic ties, and the 40 th anniversary of the signing of the Vietnam – Laos Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation, next year.

The host spoke highly of mutual support at multilateral forums over the past period and vowed to help Laos fulfill its role as ASEAN Chair this year.

He also asked for Laos’ support in the East Sea issue, as well as the sustainable and effective use and management of water resources in the Mekong River.

The leader took the occasion to thank the Lao Party, State and people for helping Vietnam with recovery efforts from the current severe drought and saline intrusion in the Mekong Delta and Central Highlands, which he said, vividly reflects the Vietnam – Laos special solidarity.

He also promised to visit Laos in the near future.

Under a joint statement issued during the visit to Vietnam by Bounnhang Volachith as top Party and State leader, both sides continued underscoring their traditional friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation, considering it as an invaluable asset of the two Parties and nations.

They committed to reinforcing the bilateral coordination on the basis of upholding independence, self-reliance, and fair and mutually beneficial cooperation – for the sake of peace, stability, cooperation and development in Southeast Asia and the world.

Host and guest also pledged to boost national defence-security links and reached consensus on regional and global issues of shared concern, including the East Sea issue.-VNA