Vientiane (VNA) – As part of his working visit to Laos, Politburo member and Secretaryof the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee Nguyen Thien Nhan on January 25 visitedKhamtay Siphandone, former General Secretary of the Lao People’s RevolutionaryParty (LPRP) and former President of Laos.

Nhanexpressed his hope that the former leader will continue giving his ideas andvaluable experience as well as educating younger generations about the preservationand promotion of the traditional friendship and special solidarity between thetwo nations.

Nhansaid that his visit shows HCM City’s determination to reinforce and developspecial ties with Lao localities, especially its twined province of Champasak.

Forhis part, Khamtay Siphandone stressed that the special relationship betweenVietnam and Laos is the only of its kind in the world, expressing his hope thatleaders and people of both countries will continue working together closely andsupport each other in completing all important tasks, including developing socialist-orientedeconomy and ensuring defence-security.

Thesame day, Nhan paid a courtesy call on Bounthong Divixay, Secretary of theprovincial Party Committee and Governor of Champasak province, during which heaffirmed that HCM City always work hard to preserve, reinforce and develop specialties with Laos and Champasak province in particular.

Showingtheir delight at the growing partnership between the two localities over thepast 18 years, the two officials noted that along with joint efforts inimplementing the memorandum of understanding on cooperation in the 2016-2020period, HCM City and Champasak have maintained the regular exchange ofdelegations.

HCMCity has granted 20 scholarships to Champasak students each year, therebyhelping the Lao province to train its human resources.

Nhanproposed that Champasak continue prioritising and creating favourableconditions for HCM City’s projects, while supporting workers and techniciansfrom the city, and strengthen bilateral collaboration in education and hi-techagriculture. He also asked for Champasak’s assistance to the Vietnamesecommunity in the province.

Nhantold the host that that in Match 2018, a delegation from the HCM City People’sCouncil led by its chairwoman Nguyen Thi Quyet Tam will visit Champasak toshare experience in people’s council affairs, focusing on urban management andinvestment policy supervision.

BounthongDivixay hailed the close cooperation between the two localities over the pastyears, adding that Champasak wants to learn HCM City’s financial experience.

Alsoon January 25, Nhan visited the Champasak Friendship Primary School, theVietnamese General Consulate in Pakse, and the Vietnamese Association inLaos.-VNA