(KPL) Thongloun Sisoulith, General Secretary of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party and President of Laos, met on April 9 with Tran Cam Tu, a senior leader of the Communist Party of Vietnam, during his official visit to the country.

Tran Cam Tu, a member of Vietnam’s Politburo and Standing Member of the Secretariat, was leading a high-level delegation from the Vietnamese Party and State.

Thongloun welcomed the delegation and described them as close friends of Laos. He said the visit comes at an important time following major political milestones in both countries, including recent party congresses and national elections. He also noted the upcoming Lao New Year celebrations.

The Lao leader congratulated Tran Cam Tu on his reappointment to a key leadership role, calling it a sign of strong confidence from Vietnam’s Party and people. He also extended congratulations to Vietnam on the successful formation of its new leadership following the latest National Assembly session, including the appointments of To Lam as president, Tran Thanh Man as chairman of the National Assembly, and Le Minh Hung as prime minister.

During the meeting, Thongloun emphasized the need to further strengthen bilateral ties. He called for more frequent high-level exchanges, effective implementation of existing agreements, and closer coordination between ministries, local authorities, and organizations in both countries.

He also encouraged greater cooperation in Party-building efforts, including sharing experience, training personnel, and exchanging information on political and theoretical work. In addition, he stressed the importance of raising public awareness—especially among younger generations—about the long-standing friendship, special solidarity, and comprehensive cooperation between Laos and Vietnam.

Economic cooperation and regional connectivity were also key topics. Thongloun called for stronger integration between the two economies and continued development of cross-border infrastructure.

For his part, Tran Cam Tu thanked the Lao leadership for the warm reception and praised Laos for its achievements in national development. He also commended the outcomes of Laos’ recent National Assembly session, which confirmed Thongloun Sisoulith as president along with the country’s new leadership team.

Tran Cam Tu highlighted Vietnam’s recent political developments, including the success of the 14th National Congress of the Communist Party and the election of the 16th National Assembly. He reaffirmed Vietnam’s commitment to deepening cooperation with Laos across key areas, including politics, foreign affairs, national defense, and security.

Both sides also discussed preparations for joint celebrations in 2027, which will mark major milestones in bilateral relations. Officials said the events will aim to further strengthen the longstanding partnership between the two neighboring countries.

KPL