Lao media spotlights Vietnamese President’s visit

Vientiane (VNA) – The official friendly visit by Vietnamese President Nguyen Xuan Phuc made headlines in Laos on August 10, with highlights on the visit’s contributions to further fostering the great friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and Laos.

Major local newspapers including Pasaxon (People) and PathetLao (the nation of Laos) quoted General Secretary of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party (LPRP) Central Committee and President of Laos Thongloun Sisoulith as saying that President Phuc’s selection of Laos as the first country to visit in his new position showed that the Vietnamese Party and State, and President Phuc himself have attached special importance to preserving, protecting and nurturing the great friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between the two nations.

The Lao leader stressed that the visit contributes to strongly bolster the partnership between the two Parties and countries, making it deeper, more effective and practical.

Meanwhile, Vientiane Times and other newspapers highlighted that at the talks following a solemn welcoming ceremony for the Vietnamese leader, Lao Party chief and President Thongloun Sisoulith and President Phuc agreed to further deepen the traditional friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between the two sides.

They concurred to increase visits by senior leaders and speed up the implementation of programmes and agreements reached by the two countries, while agreeing on the need to focus more on defence-security cooperation to deal with challenges and create optimal conditions for development.

The two leaders agreed with proposals from ministries and sectors of both sides to strengthen collaboration in fostering infrastructure and tourism connections and cooperation in energy and safe agriculture, aiming to reinforce the foundation for economic growth in both nations.

They also discussed issues related to the Vientiane-Hanoi expressway, the upgrade of Road No.8, the Vientiane-Vung Ang railway, Vung Ang seaport, Nongkhang airport in Houaphan and electricity trading plans.

Concluding the talks, the leaders witnessed the signing of 14 cooperation documents between the two countries’ ministries, sectors and enterprises in the fields of defence, security, drug prevention and control, search and rescue, electricity trading, and mineral exploration, exploitation and processing, the newspapers reported.

Along with covering activities of President Phuc, his spouse and the high-ranking Vietnamese delegation, the PathetLao Daily the same day ran an article on the Laos-Vietnam tradition friendship.

The article highlights the Laos-Vietnam relations through history as well as the similarities shared  by the two neighbours, while underlining their joint efforts during the struggle against the common enemy as well as in the current national construction, defence and development.

During the official friendly visit to Vietnam by Thongloun Sisoulith in late June, leaders of both sides complemented the great and historical achievements that each country has gained during the renewal process, it noted.

The article underscored a strong belief that under the leadership of the LPRP and the Communist Party of Vietnam, the reform process as well as the national defence and development of both Laos and Vietnam will come to further success./.