(KPL) General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee To Lam, accompanied by a high-ranking delegation of the Party and State of Vietnam, arrived in Vientiane on the morning of February 5 to begin a state visit to the Lao People’s Democratic Republic.

At Wattay International Airport, the Vietnamese delegation was warmly received by Deputy Prime Minister Vilay Lakhamfong and senior leaders of the Lao PDR.

The visit is made at the invitation of General Secretary of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party (LPRP) Central Committee and President of the Lao PDR Thongloun Sisoulith.

Joining Party General Secretary To Lam on the visit are Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh; Politburo Member and Chairman of the National Assembly Tran Thanh Man; Politburo Member, Secretary of the Party Central Committee and Head of the Organisation Commission Le Minh Hung; Politburo Member, Secretary of the Party Central Committee and President of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Central Committee Bui Thi Minh Hoai; Politburo Member and Minister of National Defence General Phan Van Giang; and Politburo Member and Minister of Public Security General Luong Tam Quang.

Also accompanying the delegation are Politburo Member, Secretary of the Party Central Committee and Head of the Commission for Information, Education and Mass Mobilisation Trinh Van Quyet; Politburo Member, Secretary of the Party Central Committee and Head of the Inspection Commission Tran Sy Thanh; Politburo Member and Chief of the Party Central Committee Office Pham Gia Tuc; and Politburo Member and Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Hoai Trung.

The visit takes place shortly after the successful organisation of the 14th National Congress of the CPV and the 12th National Congress of the LPRP. The selection of Laos as the first overseas destination of Party General Secretary To Lam in the new term reflects Vietnam’s consistent policy of attaching special importance and top priority to the Vietnam–Laos relationship.

This is also the first state visit hosted by Laos since its 12th National Party Congress, and follows shortly after the visit to Vietnam by Party General Secretary and President of the Lao PDR Thongloun Sisoulith, who was the first foreign head of state to visit Vietnam after the CPV’s 14th National Congress.

The visit is expected to further strengthen the great friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between the two Parties, States and peoples, and to promote the development of Vietnam–Laos relations in a more substantive, effective and sustainable manner in the new period.

KPL