This is the first official friendship visit abroad by the Lao Party General Secretary and State President in the 2011-2016 tenure, after the official friendship visit to Laos made by Party General Secretary and National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Phu Trong in June.
The Lao Party General Secretary and State President’s visit to Vietnam is an important event, contributing to raising the traditional friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive co-operation between Vietnam and Laos to a new level.
The Vietnam visit by Lao Party General Secretary and State President Choummaly Sayasone takes place at a time when the Lao people are pooling their efforts to implement the Resolution of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party’s 9th Party Congress and the economic development plan for the 2011-2015 period and Vietnamese people are positively realising the Resolution of their 11th National Party Congress. Vietnam’s 11th National Party Congress and Laos’ 9th Party Congress affirm the line and policies of both Parties and countries, which attach great importance to consolidating and strengthening the traditional friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive co-operation between Vietnam and Laos. The Lao Party General Secretary and State President’s Vietnam visit creates an incentive for both Parties, States and peoples to accelerate the implementation of agreements reached between high ranking leaders from the two countries and the Joint Statement issued in June 2011, as well as to well organise a ‘Vietnam-Laos Friendship and Solidarity Year’ in each country.
As neighbouring countries, Vietnam and Laos have had a strong attachment for a long time. The traditional friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive co-operation between the Parties, countries and people of Vietnam and Laos that was established by the late Vietnamese President Ho Chi Minh and the late Lao President Kaysone Phomvihane continue and are rising to a new height. The two sides have recently welcomed the announcement of the project to compile a history of the special relationship between Vietnam and Laos from 1930-2007. This project is of special significance for politics, science and education, and will contribute to maintaining and strengthening the ties between the two countries.
The close solidarity and trust between the two Parties, countries and peoples are continuously being strengthened. High-level meetings between Party, State, Government and National Assembly leaders from the two countries are organised regularly. Co-operation between ministries, National Assembly Commissions, sectors and organisations, as well as localities and enterprises in both countries, has been promoted.
Vietnam now has 258 investment projects in Laos, with total invested capital over US$3.3 billion. Two-way trade turnover in 2010 reached US$490 million, up 17.2% compared to 2009, and in the first six months of 2011 it reached US$300 million. Both sides are striving to boost bilateral trade to US$2 billion by 2015. The two sides have exchanged information and co-ordinated in international and regional issues as well as in international organisations and multilateral forums such as ASEAN, ASEM +3, AIPA, ACMECS, and the UN.
On this occasion, once again we thank the Party, Government and people of Laos for their support and valuable assistance to Vietnam in our past struggle for national independence and during the country’s current construction and national defence. May the Lao People, under the leadership of the Lao Revolutionary People’s Party, continue to gain greater achievements, and successfully realise the Resolution of their 9th Party Congress and the economic development plan for the 2011-2015 period.
May the official friendship visit to Vietnam by Lao Party General Secretary and State President Choummaly Sayasone and his wife be crowned with success. It is believed that the visit will be the driving force to raise the traditional friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive co-operation between Vietnam and Laos to a higher level, and enhance the traditional solidarity and fine relationship between the Parties, countries and peoples of Vietnam and Laos to promote the aspirations and interests of both peoples for peace, stability, co-operation and development in the region and the world.
