Earlier, Deputy PM and FM Thongloun Sisoulit, his wife and entourage were given a welcome ceremony at the Government Guest House upon their arrival for an official visit to Viet Nam from July 17-19.

The two deputy PMs expressed their pleasure at the fine development of Viet Nam-Laos relations in the recent past. They agreed that the two countries should continue to promote the exchange of visits of high-level delegations as well as delegations of ministries, sectors and localities of the two sides.

On concrete cooperation areas, the two leaders were pleased at the two countries' increasing two-way trade value, which reached 163 million USD in 2005.

They agreed that education and training would be a long-term cooperation area that the two Parties and States need to pay regular attention to, and that the two sides should coordinate activities to improve the quality of training.

The two sides were unanimous to promote cooperation to effectively implement the project to upgrade the system of land markers planting along the Viet Nam-Laos borderline, while assigning the two countries' Joint Border Committee to continue to settle outstanding issues as soon as possible in the spirit of the Viet Nam-Laos special friendship.

On Viet Nam-Laos cooperation to help resolve the US MIA issue, they agreed that the two sides would continue to cooperate closely in resolving MIA cases on their common border through the exchange of information and joint measures.

On cooperation between the two Foreign Ministries, they stressed that the two ministries would further promote coordination and cooperation between their units in the coming period according to their agreements, meeting demands of the two countries' external affairs.

On international and regional matters, the two sides agreed to cooperate with Cambodia to accelerate cooperation in the development triangle of the three countries. They also expressed their concern over the complicated developments in the Middle-East and the Korea Peninsular, and affirmed that they will close cooperate at regional and multilateral forums including ASEAN, ASEM, ACMECS, CLMV, GMS, and the East-West Corridor. The Vietnamese side affirmed its support for Laos to join international organisations such as APEC and is ready to help Laos in organising the Francophone Conference scheduled for Laos in 2007.

In the evening, Deputy PM and FM Khiem hosted a banquet in honour of Deputy PM and FM Thongloun Sisoulit , his wife and other Lao distinguished guests.

The Lao delegation plans to leave Ha Noi on July 18 for Ho Chi Minh City, the second leg of its Viet Nam visit.(VNA)