Party General Secretary and National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Phu Trong, his wife and entourage left the capital city of Vientiane for Savannakhet province on the afternoon of June 21.

At the reception, the Vietnamese leader said he was happy to visit the province – the homeland of late President Kaysone Phomvihane and other predecessor Lao leaders.

Trong spoke highly of the results of mutual assistance and bilateral cooperation between Savannakhet province and Vietnam’s localities.

He said he hoped Savannakhet will continue expanding its cooperative ties with Vietnam’s localities, particularly border provinces, to keep the common border of peace and stability.

Savannakhet Provincial Party Committee Secretary and Mayor Suphan Keomisay briefed the Vietnamese leader of his provincial socio-economic development, saying that Savannakhet has attained an annual GDP growth of 10 percent.

The province has invested in cultivating sugarcane, rubber, eucalyptus and other industrial trees to help reduce poverty, eliminate hunger and develop rural areas as well as improving health care and education services, he said.

Savannakhet wants to further its cooperation with Vietnam’s localities, said the mayor, adding that Vietnam is now the third largest investor in Savannakhet with 24 projects totalling more than 140 million USD.

On this occasion, the Vietnamese leader announced to present the Culture House to Savannakhet locals. The Savannakhet Mayor thanked the Vietnamese leader for the present, saying that the cultural work will bear the name of late President Kaysone Phomvihane.

While in Savannakhet, the Vietnamese leader and his entourage toured the Vietnamese Language Training Centre./.