“I believe the visit will contribute practically and importantly to further reinforcing friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and Laos,” PM Dung said.

He made the remarks during his talks with Lao Prime Minister Thongsing Thammavong in Hanoi on Feb. 28, after welcoming his guest earlier the same day.

Congratulating Thongsing Thammavong on his new post, the Vietnamese PM said he was happy and highly valued the socio-economic achievements Laos made in 2010.

He mentioned the neighbouring country’s effective management of adverse impacts of the global economic crisis, its 7.9 percent economic growth rate, its efforts to maintain political security and social order and to improve people’s living conditions, and its growing role in the international arena.

PM Dung took the occasion to wish the ninth National Congress of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party, slated for March this year, every success.

The Lao PM warmly congratulated the success of the 11th National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam, describing it as an important milestone in Vietnam’s development cause.

He gave high estimations of Vietnam’s accomplishment of its role as the President of ASEAN and AIPA in 2010 and said he was glad to see the Vietnamese people’s immense gains in their renewal process.

On behalf of the Lao Party,Government and people, Thammavong expressed his deep gratitude to the great assistance offered by the Vietnamese Party, Government and people during Laos’ national liberation cause in the past and its current development course.

The two PMs showed their satisfaction at the increasingly strengthened and deepened friendship and comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and Laos.

They asserted that the Parties, States and peoples of the two countries would continue to maintain and foster their faithful and trusting relations, considering them a valuable asset of the two nations that needs to be preserved and passed on to younger generations.

The leaders agreed to work closely in implementing agreements reached by Party and State leaders concerning the enhancement of political, security and defence ties, as well as cooperation in economic trade and investment.

They also agreed to instruct relevant ministries, sectors and localities to properly prepare the contents of the 33rd meeting of the Inter-governmental Committee.

These ministries, sectors and localities will continue to coordinate in increasing the popularisation, instruction and inspection over the implementation of agreements on economic, cultural, scientific and technological cooperation as well as the deployment of signed programmes and projects, said the government leaders.

They reached consensus on the need to screen, supplement and perfect existing cooperative mechanisms and policies, as well as sign new cooperation deals to encourage and create favourable conditions to promote investment and trade in order to raise the two countries’ two-way trade to 2 billion USD in 2015.

On education and training, the two PMs agreed on the early signing of the project on “raising the quality and effectiveness of Vietnam-Laos cooperation in education and human resources development in the 2011-20 period” so as to jointly carry it out successfully.

They reiterated determination to build a shared borderline of peace, stability, friendship, cooperation and development as well as engage in efforts to complete the strengthening of land border markers by 2014.

The leaders agreed to encourage the two countries’ localities, especially connected localities, to boost cooperation and help each other, thus contributing enthusiastically to strengthening and enhancing the Laos-Vietnam special solidarity and friendship.

They also agreed to continue working more closely and effectively in sharing information and activities at regional and international forums.

At the end of the talks, PM Thongsing Thammavong invited Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung to make an official visit to Laos./.