Vietnam and Laos should beef up their economic and trade ties to match the potential and strengths of each country as well as their special political relations, said a legislative leader.

National Assembly Vice Chairman Nguyen Duc Kien made the statement at meetings with Chairman Thongsinh Thammavong and Vice Chairwoman Pany Yathotu of the Lao legislature, and Lao Prime Minister Buasone Bouphavanh.

Kien, who has been on a working visit to Laos from Dec. 1-4, said the close cooperation between the two legislative bodies has contributed to the fulfilment of tasks and helped strengthen the Vietnam-Lao friendship.

The lawmaker briefed his hosts on Vietnam’s socio-economic development in the recent past as well as its economic prospects after the country weathers the impact of the global economic crisis.

He also affirmed that the Party and State of Vietnam attach great importance to preserving and developing special relations with Laos’s fraternal Party, State and people.

The Lao leaders shared this view, saying that Laos will step up its relations with Vietnam in a more effective and practical manner for the sake of development and prosperity in each country.

While in Laos, the Vietnamese legislators also attended a ceremony to break ground for the Lao NA Office which is being built with funding provided by Vietnam.

They visited the facilities of the Hai Duong-Vientiane joint venture company, the Kaysone Phomvihan Museum, the Laos-Vietnam Friendship Secondary School and a number of economic and cultural establishments./.