The Prime Minister made this remark at a meeting with visiting Vietnamese Politburo member and permanent member of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee (CPVCC) Secretariat, Le Hong Anh. He is leading a high-ranking CPV and State delegation in a friendly, official visit to Laos from July 17 to attend the activities marking the 35th anniversary of the signing of the bilateral Friendship and Cooperation Treaty and the 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties between the two countries.

Thongsing Thammavong expressed his belief that the delegation’s visit will make an important contribution to the two countries’ special friendship, adding that these activities will help the two peoples, especially young generations understand deeply about the special relation initialed and nurtured by President Ho Chi Minh and President Kaysone Phomvihane.

He also stressed that the Lao Government will guide its ministries, departments and localities to implement effectively agreements between the two parties and states.

For his part, Le Hong Anh congratulated Laos on its great achievements in all fields that the country gained after one year of implementation of the ninth Congress’s Resolution of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party (LPRP) and the seventh five-year socio-economic development plan, saying that the country will obtain new and greater success in its renovation cause under the leadership of the LPRP and the guidelines of the Lao Government.

Anh re-affirmed that Viet Nam always attaches great importance to Laos and will do its utmost to work together with the neighbouring country to maintain and promote the traditional friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between the two parties, states and peoples into a new height.

The two sides were unanimous in the continuous development of the Viet Nam-Laos relations. Cooperation in economics, defence-security, culture, education, and science and technology has attained positive results. Especially, the two governments have coordinated closely to implement signed agreements.

On the same day, the Vietnamese delegation participated in the opening ceremony of the Vietnamese Cultural Week in Laos and an exhibition of photos, artifacts and documents on the two countries’ special relations.