Party General Secretary Nong Duc Manh arrived in Vientiane in the morning of April 13, beginning an official friendship visit to Laos at the invitation of Lao Party General Secretary and President Choummaly Sayasone.

Welcoming the Vietnamese Party leader and his delegation at Wattay airport was Thongloun Sisoulith, member of the Lao Party Political Bureau, Deputy Prime Minister, Chairman of the Party Central Committee’s Commission for External Relations and Foreign Minister and other Lao senior officials.

An official welcoming was held for the Vietnamese Party leader’s arrival at the Presidential Palace in Vientiane with the highest ceremonies of the Lao State .

Prominent among the Lao hosts at the ceremony were Bounnhang Vorachit, member of the Lao Party Political Bureau, standing member of the Party Secretariat, and Deputy State President; Sisavath Keobounphanh, Politburo member and President of the Lao Front for National Construction and Bouasone Bouphavanh, Politburo member and Prime Minister.

Speaking after the welcoming ceremony, General Secretary Manh expressed his pleasure at joining the Lao Party, State leaders and people in enjoying the Lao traditional New Year festival Boun Pimai.

Also on the morning of April 13, General Secretary Manh and the high-level Vietnamese delegation laid a wreath at the Lao Fallen Soldiers Monument in Vientiane .

The Vietnamese Party leader and his counterpart Sayasone held talks at the headquarters of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party in Vientiane the same morning.

General Secretary Sayasone praised the visit to Laos by General Secretary Manh and expressed his pleasure at achievements by the Vietnamese people in their cause of national construction and defence.

He expressed his belief that under the leadership of the Communist Party of Vietnam, the country would implement well the Xth Party Congress’s resolution, make good preparations for the XIth Party Congress and continue to gain greater achievements in the national renewal process, thus helping to raise Vietnam ’s position in the region and the world.

General Secretary Manh expressed his pleasure at revisiting Laos , meeting close friends and comrades again and breathing in the air of the Vietnam-Laos special friendship.

The Vietnamese Party leader congratulated Laos on their great and historic achievements in national construction and defence.

He affirmed that the Vietnamese Party, State and people attach great importance to relations with Laos and will continue to enhance those ties for development, peace, cooperation and stability in the region and the world.

The two leaders expressed their pride and satisfaction at the on-going development of the comprehensive cooperation between the two countries.

The two sides also expressed their determination to maintain and develop their precious traditional relations, which were fostered by Presidents Ho Chi Minh and Kaysone Phomvihane and carried on by generations of leaders, as well as the people and soldiers of the two countries. They said the special relationship between the two countries is an invaluable treasure for future generations.

They agreed to continue to enhance comprehensive cooperation between the two countries in the spirit of independence, sovereignty and self-reliance to tap the potential and capacity of each country under the principle of mutual benefits, giving each other suitable priorities and preferences, and constantly improving the quality and efficiency of the cooperation.

The two sides also agreed to accelerate meetings and exchanges between senior officials of the two Parties and States to discuss theories and share experiences in national renewal and Party building. They also agreed to create favourable conditions for ministries, agencies, organisations and localities to boost cooperation, especially localities sharing a common border.

They reached agreements on measures to increase cooperation in security, national defence, social order and prevention of opposition activities by hostile forces and cross-border crime.

They also agreed to further cooperate in the search and repatriation of the remains of fallen Vietnamese soldiers in Laos .

The two sides agreed to complete a project to increase the number of markers along the Vietnam-Laos border by 2014 and to continue to build their joint borderline in a spirit of peace, friendship, cooperation, comprehensive development and sustainability.

To promote mutual understanding, the two leaders stressed the necessity of expanding cultural and sport activities and agreed to organise Laos Culture Week in Vietnam in 2010.

They also exchanged views on regional and international matters of common concern and agreed to increase informational exchanges and cooperate in activities at international and regional organisations, such as the UN, Non-Aligned Movement, ASEAN and ASEM.

The two leaders stressed the importance of increasing cooperation between them within the framework of ASEAN, thus contributing to consolidating solidarity and cooperation within the bloc, for peace, sustainability and development in the Southeast Asia and Asia-Pacific region.

The two countries will strengthen cooperation within the framework of the Vietnam-Laos-Cambodia Development Triangle, work closely together and with third parties to promote cooperation in the Mekong River sub-region, the East-West economic corridor and other multilateral projects.

The Vietnamese Party chief thanked his Laos counterpart as well as the Lao Party, State and people for their warm and esteem welcome.

He also took this occasion to inaugurate a school, built at a cost of 50 billion VND, for schoolchildren in Luang Prabang province.

He invited the Lao Party chief and President to visit Vietnam./.