Hanoi (VNA) – Politburo member, National Assembly (NA) Chairman VuongDinh Hue hosted a reception in Hanoi on July 19 for visiting Bounthong Chitmany,Politburo member, permanent member of the Secretariat of the Lao People'sRevolutionary Party (LPRP), and Vice President of Laos.

Bounthong Chitmany is on an official visit to Vietnam toattend the meeting marking the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomaticties and 45 years of the signing of the Vietnam-Laos Treaty of Amity and Cooperation.

He congratulated Hue on receiving the National Gold Order –the highest distinction of Laos – in recognition of his great contributions toconsolidating and nurturing the great friendship, special solidarity andcomprehensive cooperation between the two countries' Parties, States and people.

He affirmed that Lao Party and State leaders pay specialattention to the celebration of the 60th anniversary of the establishment of bilateraldiplomatic ties and 45 years of the signing of the Treaty as well as activitieswithin the framework of the Vietnam - Laos, Laos - Vietnam Friendship andSolidarity Year 2022, considering this an important occasion to disseminate andeducate Lao officials, Party members and people, especially the younggeneration, about the two countries’ special relations so that they can realisetheir responsibility for preserving, consolidating and developing the bilateralties.

Expressing his honour to receive such a noble award of theLao Party and State, Hue affirmed that he will do his utmost to, together withthe two countries’ leaders, maintain and continuously foster the special Vietnam-Laosrelations

The two leaders affirmed that the Vietnam-Laos relationship,founded by President Ho Chi Minh and Lao Presidents Kaysone Phomvihane andSouphanouvong, and nurtured by generations of leaders and people of the twocountries, is a valuable asset, an objective rule and a factor of vitalsignificance to ensure the success of the revolution in each country.

Both sides have maintained delegation exchanges andhigh-level contacts, regularly organised bilateral cooperation mechanisms, andintensified cooperation in security, defence, trade, investment, transportconnectivity, education and training, and people-to-people exchange.

National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue expressed hisdelight at basic results achieved by Laos in pandemic control, socio-economicrecovery, macro foundation strengthening, and control of drug-related problems.He expressed his belief that with the sound leadership of the LPRP, theself-reliance and resilience of the Lao Party, State and people, and the support of internationalfriends, Laos will soon overcome challenges to successfully implement theResolution of the 11th National Party Congress and the 9th five-yearSocio-Economic Development Plan.

Host and guest exchanged views on several cooperationfields, and agreed to maintain close coordination and ask authorized agenciesto address difficulties and barriers facing businesses so as to facilitate theimplementation of the two countries’ key cooperation projects.

On the same day, the Lao Vice President attended the openingceremony of an exhibition featuring the Laos-Vietnam friendship.

With 100 photos and documents brought to Vietnam by the Lao Ministryof Information, Culture and Tourism, the exhibition introduces to theVietnamese public the culture, country, people and tourism potential of Laos,as well as the great friendship, special solidarity and comprehensivecooperation between the two nations.

The exhibition will remain open to visitors until the end ofJuly 21 at Vietnam Art and Cultural Exhibition Centre, No. 2 Hoa Lu, Hanoi./.