Fostering Vietnam-Laos friendship, solidarity and comprehensive co-operation

 affirming the political trust and special attention constantly given to consolidating the traditional friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive co-operation between Vietnam and Laos.

At the conclusion of the visit, the Lao General Secretary and President presented a letter to Vietnamese leaders to thank Vietnamese Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, President Tran Dai Quang, in addition to other leaders and the Vietnamese people for their warm reception during his visit made from April 25-27.

During the visit, Party General Secretary and President Bounnhang Volachith held talks with Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and met President Tran Dai Quang, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc, and National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan.

He also had meetings with Secretary of Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee Dinh La Thang, a delegation from the Vietnam-Laos Friendship Association, and the liaison board for former volunteer soldiers and military experts in Laos, among others.

The two sides also issued a joint statement that continues to affirm the traditional friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive co-operation established by President Ho Chi Minh, President Kaysone Phomvihane and President Xuphanuvong and nurtured by generations of leaders of the two Parties, States and peoples.

The joint statement also asserted the crucial role of the bilateral relations which has become an invaluable asset of the two countries and an important resource for the cause of national construction, defence and development of each country, contributing to the peace, stability, co-operation and development in the region and the world.

The two sides also pledged to ceaselessly nurture and promote the special solidarity and comprehensive relations based on the spirit of independence, self-reliance, equality and mutual interests and international practices.

At the talks and meetings, both sides informed each other on the situation of each country and Party and discussed policies and measures to develop the bilateral relations in a practical and effective manner. Leaders also shared their ideas on regional and international issues of mutual interest.

They believed that under the leadership of the Communist Party of Vietnam and Lao People's Revolutionary Party, the peoples of the two countries will continue to gain further achievements in the process of national defence and development and raise the position of the two countries on the international arena.

The two sides also appreciated the support and assistance of each other in their respective struggles for national independence in the past and in the current process of national construction and defence.

Leaders of the two countries also affirmed to continue to closely co-ordinate in regional and international issues. The two sides expressed their concern over the current tension in the East Sea and emphasised the importance of maintaining peace, stability, security and safety in the East Sea.

They also agreed to settle disputes in the East Sea by peaceful measures based on international laws and the Declaration on the Conduct of Parities in the East Sea (DOC) as well as form of a Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC) to preserve peace, stability, co-operation and development in the region and the world.

The official visit to Vietnam took place after Bounnhang Volachith was elected as General Secretary of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party and President of Laos, and contributes to lifting the traditional friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive co-operation between Vietnam and Laos to a new level, meeting the expectations of the peoples of both countries and for regional and world peace, stability, co-operation and development. 

(Source: Nhandan Online)