The Vietnamese Embassy in Laos hosted a reception on July 18 to celebrate the Vietnam-Laos Friendship and Solidarity Year 2012, the 50th anniversary of Vietnam-Laos diplomatic ties and the 35 years since the signing of the Friendship and Cooperation Treaty.

Many top leaders of Laos were present at the event, including Party General Secretary and State President Chummaly Saynhasone, Prime Minister Thongsing Thammavong and National Assembly President Pani Zathotou.

Addressing the event, Vietnamese Ambassador to Laos Ta Minh Chau said Vietnam is delighted at the constant developments of the Vietnam-Laos traditional friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation.

For his part, Lao Prime Minister Thongsing Thammavong affirmed that Laos will always preserve and further develop the pure and loyal relationship with Vietnam .

A special exhibition on the Vietnam-Laos special relations for the 1962-2012 period was opened in Vientiane on July 17 and one day later at the Ho Chi Minh Museum in Hanoi .

The exhibition will run through September 15, 2012.

Also on July 18, Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc welcomed delegates to the third Vietnam-Laos People Friendship Festival in Hanoi .

Deputy PM Phuc said the third Vietnam-Laos People Friendship Festival is a practical activity of the two friendship organisations to mark the 50th anniversary of Vietnam-Laos diplomatic ties and the 35 years since the signing of the Friendship and Cooperation Treaty.

Meetings were also held in Vietnam’s central coastal city of Da Nang and Lao province of Attapeu to mark the two anniversaries.-VNA