Hanoi (VNA) - General Secretary of theLao People’s Revolutionary Party (LPRP) and President of Laos BounnhangVorachith and the Lao high-ranking delegation left the central province of NgheAn on December 21 and concluded the official friendly visit to Vietnam fromDecember 19-21.

During his stay in Vietnam, the Lao leader held talkswith General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Nguyen Phu Trong andhad a meeting with President Tran Dai Quang before announcing the ending of theVietnam-Laos Friendship and Solidarity Year 2017.

He also met Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc, NationalAssembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan, and visited some former Party andState leaders of Vietnam. He also hosted receptions for leaders of theVietnam-Laos Friendship Association and Vietnamese former voluntary soldiersand experts in Laos, Vietnamese youngsters, and Lao students in Vietnam.

He visited some economic and cultural facilities ofHanoi, Nghe An and the Military Zone 4 Headquarters. He also laid flowers atthe Martyrs’ Monument in Hanoi and paid tribute to President Ho Chi Minh at thelate leaders’ mausoleum as well as the Kim Lien Historical Relic Site in NgheAn’s Nam Dan district.

At the meetings, the two sides pledged to continue to inheritand promote the tradition to protect and develop the special solidarity andcomprehensive cooperation between the two Parties, State and people,considering it as a matter of vital importance to the future of the twonations.

They agreed on orientations and measures to continueboosting bilateral relations and working closely together to effectively implementagreements between the two countries. The will maintain regular meetingsbetween Party and State leaders, while enhancing the effectiveness of bilateralcooperation mechanisms and expanding partnership as well as fostering relationsbetween ministries, organisations and localities of both sides.

Vietnam and Laos will also strengthen communications,especially among youngsters, on the special ties of Vietnam and Laos.

They concurred to improve the effectiveness ofcooperation in economy, investment, trade, culture, education and training,health care and science-technology, as well as defence and security, whilesupporting citizens of each other. The two countries will also coordinateclosely at regional and international forums.

They also highlighted the need to maintain peace,stability, security and safety in the East Sea.

The same day, General Secretary of the Lao People’sRevolutionary Party (LPRP) and President of Laos Bounnhang Vorachith sent amessage to Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and President Tran DaiQuang expressing his thanks for Vietnam’s warm welcome to him and the Laodelegation.

He said he believes that the outcomes of theLaos-Vietnam, Vietnam-Laos Friendship and Solidarity Year 2017 as well asdiscussions of leaders of the two countries will help boost bilateral ties,benefiting their people.

He also expressed his wish that the great friendship,special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between the two Parties,States and people of Vietnam and Laos will be ever green and stable.-VNA