Laos-Vietnam special ties will develop for ever: Lao party official

Vientiane (VNA) – The great friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between Laos and Vietnam have unceasingly grown in both scale and depth despite complicated developments in the regional and world situation, said a senior official of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party (LPRP).

Sounthon Xayachak, member of the LPRP Central Committee and head of the LPRP Central Committee’s Commission for External Relations, made the affirmation in an interview granted to the Vietnam News Agency ahead of an official visit to Laos by General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee and President of Vietnam Nguyen Phu Trong, slated for February 24 and 25.

The official underlined that the bilateral political cooperation has been deepened and mutual trust strengthened through the regular exchange of official and unofficial visits by Party, State, parliament leaders and officials of localities, agencies and sectors of both countries. Bilateral economic collaboration has made significant progress, with Vietnam among the top investors in Laos and bilateral trade value rising year after year. The two countries have also promoted cooperation in external affairs, defence-security, education-sport, culture, healthcare, transport, science-technology, agriculture and other fields in a practical and result-oriented manner, which contributed greatly to Laos’s socio-economic development.

Sounthon Xayachak stressed that the Lao Party and State feel honoured when Vietnam’s Party General Secretary and President Nguyen Phu Trong has selected Laos as the first country to visit after taking office as President of Vietnam.                                      

She added that the choice is not surprising considering the close friendship, the special solidarity and the comprehensive cooperation between the two countries.

“We believe that the Lao visit of the Vietnamese Party General Secretary and President will be a success and provide a good opportunity for the highest leaders of the two Parties and States to discuss partnerships in all areas, thus lifting our special ties to a new height,” she said.

In order to foster and develop the special ties between the two countries amidst unpredictable and complicated changes in the world situation, the Lao Party official said the two Parties and States should pay more attention to educating the people, especially young generations, on the tradition and history of the special Laos-Vietnam ties, so that they are aware of their own responsibility and task in preserving the precious heritage left by the older generations.

The two countries should also continue intensifying their cooperation and coordination in defence-security and external affairs to defeat all attempts to undermine the Laos-Vietnam friendship, while enhancing collaboration in economics, trade, investment, infrastructure, education, culture and other fields, she said.  

On behalf of the Party, State and people of Laos, Sounthon Xayachak took the occasion to express deep gratitude to the Party, Government and people of Vietnam for their valuable and timely support for Laos’s revolution cause. She wished the Vietnamese people greater successes in implementing the Resolution of the 12th National Party Congress and the goal of “Rich people, strong, democratic, fair and civilized country.”-VNA