Hanoi (VNA) – Both Vietnam and Laostreasure their traditional comradeship and fraternity, Le Hoai Trung, head ofthe Vietnamese Party Central Committee’s Commission for External Relations toldthe press.

Trung made the comment in an interview at the end of a three-day trip to Laos, beginning July 17, of aVietnamese delegation led by Politburo member and permanent member of the PartyCentral Committee's Secretariat Vo Van Thuong to attend the celebration of the 60th anniversaryof the bilateral diplomatic ties and 45 years of the signing of theVietnam-Laos Treaty of Amity and Cooperation.

Regarding celebrations of the two major anniversaries which were held simultaneously in the twocountries on July 18, the official said Lao leaders and people are deeply moved by the speech of Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong at the celebration in Hanoi. He added that the Lao side appreciatedthe affirmation by Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong that Vietnam givesthe highest priority to the relations with the Lao Party, State and people.

According to Trung, Lao Party General Secretary andState President Thongloun Sisoulith also pledged to consistently work with theVietnamese Party and State to promote the special relationship.

The official said during the Lao visit, the high-ranking delegation of the Vietnamese Party and State led by Politburo member Thuong attended the grand celebration in Vientiane. Thuong also hadmeetings with Lao Party General Secretary and State President ThonglounSisoulith, Prime Minister Phankham Viphavanh, NA Chairman XaysomphonePhomvihane, and other Lao leaders and former leaders.

Thuong and his entourage also attended other celebrationactivities, including an exhibition on the Vietnam-Laosrelations, and visited joint economic projects in the neighbouring country.

The delegation conveyed the special sentiments ofVietnamese Party, State and people towards Laos, and their appreciation for the support and cooperation of the Lao Party, State and people for Vietnam through differentperiods.

The two sides also compared notes on specificorientations to implement agreements reached by the Party chiefs and seniorleaders of Vietnam and Laos in sectors, particularly national defence-security,culture-social affairs, and economy, Trung said./.