State President Thongloun Sisoulith (R) receives Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh in Vientiane on Jan 11

(KPL) Party Secretary General and State President Thongloun Sisoulith received on Jan 11 a courtesy call from Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and his delegation of senior officials in Vientiane.

The Vietnamese leader and his delegation are on an official visit to Laos to enhance the great relations, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between Laos and Vietnam.

President Thongloun lauded Pham Minh Chinh’s visit as a significant contribution to strengthening the great relations, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between the two fraternal Parties, governments and peoples of Laos and Vietnam.

He expressed satisfaction that the relations between the two countries have continued to be strengthened, deepened and become priceless heritage passed down from ancestors of the two countries, noting that last year the two Parties, governments worked closely together to celebrate the Laos-Vietnam Solidarity and Friendship Year.  

He lauded the success of the bilateral meeting between the Vietnamese Prime Minister and his host counterpart as well as their participation in the closing ceremony for the celebration of the Laos-Vietnam, Vietnam-Laos Solidarity and Friendship Year 2022 where both sides affirmed their commitment to implementing the agreements of the senior officials of the two Parties and the two governments, continuing to strengthen and protect the rare special relations between Laos and Vietnam, especially promoting the cooperation on economy and trade, investment, education, human resource development, health, and science along with the cooperation on politics.

President Thongloun spoke highly of the achievements of the Laos-Vietnam inter politburo meeting in late December 2022.

He appreciated the clear-sighted, correct and creative leadership of the Communist Party of Vietnam and the effective state administration of the government of Vietnam amid changing situation in the region and the world and the Covid-19 pandemic noting that this has helped Vietnam continue to record greater and comprehensive achievements, enjoy political stability, constant economic growth with Vietnamese people enjoying better livelihoods, the role and influence of Vietnam increasingly rising in the regional and international arenas.

He expressed gratitude to the Party, government and people of Vietnam for always providing support and priceless, prompt and effective assistance to the Lao people over the past years.

In reply, Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh expressed thanks for the warm welcome of the host and his happiness to have visited the Lao PDR for the first time since his appointment to the post and as the first foreign senior official to have visited the country in 2023.

The Vietnamese leader also informed the President about the objective of his visit to Laos including to participate in the closing ceremony of the Laos-Vietnam, Vietnam-Laos Solidarity and Friendship Year 2022, and the 45th Meeting of the Laos-Vietnam, Vietnam-Laos Intergovernmental Committee on Bilateral Cooperation to evaluate the implementation of agreements reached at the Laos-Vietnam Interpolitburo Meeting in late 2022 and to congratulate Mr. Sonexay Siphandone on his election as the Prime Minister of the Lao PDR at the 4th Ordinary Session of the National Assembly’s 9th legislature in last December.

President Thongloun and visiting Vietnamese PM Pham Minh Chinh also exchanged points of view on further strengthening cooperation between the two Parties and the governments as well as the implementation of cooperation programmes and projects, mutual assistance on economic development and bringing concrete benefits to peoples of the two countries.

Both sides reaffirmed their unwavering policies and commitment to further make efforts in protecting and strengthening the great relations, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between Laos and Vietnam.

On the same day, the Vietnamese Prime Minister also paid a courtesy call to former leaders including former Presidents Choummaly Sayasone and Bounnhang Vorachit, and former Prime Minister Thongsing Thammavong.

KPL