Vietnam and Laos should promote their traditional friendship and solidarity for their mutual benefit and for to peace and stability in the region.

Vice President Nguyen Thi Doan stated this while attending an event to celebrate Laos New Year, Bunpimay, in Hanoi in the evening of Apr. 11.

Doan was among senior Party and State officials to attend the celebration.

She gave her best New Year’s wishes to the Lao Party, State and people and said she is delighted at the remarkable achievements Laos has made over the years. She added that she hopes the traditional friendship and solidarity between Vietnam and Laos will last forever.

Laos Ambassador to Vietnam , Somphone Sichaleune, thanked the Vietnamese Government and people for their invaluable and effective support given to the Lao people during their fight for liberation in the past and current national defence and construction.

He said he is pleased at the constant development of the Vietnamese-Lao relationship in a complex global situation.

This year has been chosen as Vietnam-Laos Friendship Year and also marks the 35 years since diplomatic ties were first established between the two countries.

The same day, the Quang Binh People’s Committee also hosted a cultural exchange and presented gifts to Lao students in the province to mark the Lao New Year.

Since 2007, the number of students from Laos who live and study at Quang Binh University has been constantly rising.-VNA