Vientiane (VNA) – The stability and development of Vietnam and Laos as wellas of their special relationship is a critical and irreplaceable factor to eachcountry’s national construction and protection.

The viewwas shared by Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and Party GeneralSecretary and President of Laos Bounnhang Vorachith during their talks inVientiane on November 24, following a welcome ceremony for the Vietnamese Partyleader.

The twoParty General Secretaries underlined the importance of Party General SecretaryNguyen Phu Trong’s official visit to Laos which takes place after the twoParties successfully organised their national congresses earlier in 2016 andbegan a new tenure. They believed that the visit will help deepen theVietnamese-Lao friendship, special unity and comprehensive cooperation, therebymeeting the two peoples’ aspirations and ensuring peace, stability, cooperationand development in the region and around the world.

Theyinformed each other about the situation of their respective Parties andcountries, and the implementation of the resolutions of the Parties’congresses.

The Lao PartyGeneral Secretary congratulated Vietnam on its enormous achievements during thethree decades of reforms, voicing his belief that the country will reap evengreater attainments. He also offered sympathies to Vietnamese people,especially those in the central region, on the recent damages caused by naturaldisasters.

For hispart, General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong also congratulated Laos on theirreform accomplishments and wished the country further success in nationaldevelopment.

The twoleaders rejoiced at the increasingly substantive relations in all spheresbetween the two Parties and countries, reiterating their strong support foreach nation’s reform and national development and protection.

Theyagreed to enhance political connections by maintaining meetings between theirParty and country leaders, sharing theoretical research and experience in strengtheningthe Party and enhancing officials’ capacity. The two sides will coordinate tosuccessfully organise activities marking big anniversaries in 2017 so as toeducate younger generations on the Vietnam-Laos special unity.

They alsostressed the need for stronger defence-security cooperation and economicconnectivity, especially in terms of institutions, transport infrastructure,energy and tourism. Vietnam and Laos will expeditiously fine-tune mechanismsand policies while tackling obstacles to facilitate economic partnership.

They willalso improve the effectiveness of bilateral collaboration in education,training and human resources development, while closely supervising and pushingforward the execution of the high-level agreements and cooperation programmesand projects between the two Parties and countries.

The twoleaders agreed to bolster coordination at international and regional forums,particularly the United Nations, ASEAN and cooperation mechanisms in theGreater Mekong Sub-region.

Vietnamand Laos will also work together to manage and effectively use water resourcesof the Mekong River in order to ensure the harmony of interests among theMekong nations and the region’s sustainable development, they said.

PartyGeneral Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong highly valued Laos’s clear expression of itsviewpoint on the East Sea issue as the ASEAN Chair in 2016.

He andBounnhang Vorachith underscored the importance of maintaining peace, stability,security and safety in the East Sea. They agreed to boost the ASEAN unityregarding the East Sea problem while pushing for the peaceful settlement ofdisputes on the basis of international law, including the 1982 UN Convention onthe Law of the Sea, the full and effective implementation of the Declaration onthe Conduct of Parties in the East Sea, and efforts towards soon finalising aCode of Conduct in the waters.

The VietnameseParty leader invited Bounnhang Vorachith to visit Vietnam. The Lao Party GeneralSecretary and President thanked and accepted the invitation.-VNA