Vientiane (VNA) - Deputy PrimeMinister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh paid courtesy calls on Lao top leadersin Vientiane on November 30 as part of his official visit to Vietnam’s neighbourand participation in the two countries’ 7th annual political consultation atthe foreign minister level.

He met separately with General Secretary of theLao People’s Revolutionary Party (LPRP) and State President BounnhangVorachith, Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith, and National Assembly (NA)Chairwoman Pany Yathotou.

Minh extended greetings to Laos on the occasionof its 45th National Day (December 2) and congratulated the country on its significantachievements in internal and external affairs, especially the containment ofCOVID-19, paving the way for the successful implementation of itssocio-economic development plan for 2016 - 2020.

He expressed his belief that Laos willsuccessfully organise the 11th National LPRP Congress in early 2021 andcontinue building itself into a strong and prosperous country with growingstature in the region and the world.

The official also briefed his hosts on theoutcomes of his consultation with Lao Foreign Minister Saleumsay Kommasith onNovember 29, affirming that the two foreign ministries will keep working withministries and sectors on both sides to continue realising cooperativeagreements, programmes, and projects and prepare for important diplomaticactivities in December, including the 43rd meeting of the Vietnam - LaosInter-Governmental Committee.

The Lao leaders highly valued the two foreignministries’ maintenance of important cooperation mechanisms, reiterating thatthe Party, State, NA, Government, and people of Laos treasure and give top priorityto the enhancement of the great relationship, special solidarity, andcomprehensive cooperation with Vietnam.

They thanked the Party, State, Government, andpeople of Vietnam for their valuable cooperation with and support for Laosduring its struggle for national independence in the past as well as nationaldevelopment at present.

The leaders also appreciated Vietnam’sassistance to their country in the COVID-19 fight and the provision of 1,000tonnes of rice to help Lao people, particularly those in Savannakhet province,address the consequences of natural disasters.

Applauding bilateral cooperation, Party GeneralSecretary and State President Vorachith asked the two countries to activelyshare information and experience in preparation for their national partycongresses, Party and political system building, socio-economic management,international integration, and measures to realise resolutions from the comingparty congresses.

They should also seek solutions to existingdifficulties so as to promote links in economy, investment, trade, culture,education and training, and science and technology, he added.

Meanwhile, PM Sisoulith agreed to maintainregular mutual visits and meetings in flexible forms amid the COVID-19pandemic, noting that Laos will coordinate in reviewing and accelerating theimplementation of high-level agreements reached in 2020 and speeding up jointprojects, especially key ones.

He expressed his readiness to come to Vietnam tojoin PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc in co-chairing the 43rd meeting of the Vietnam - LaosInter-Governmental Committee.

For her part, NA Chairwoman Yathotou spokehighly of the two parliaments’ cooperation, describing the new NA building in Laos- a gift from the Vietnamese Party, State, and people - as a symbol of thegreat relationship between the two countries.

She pledged that the Lao NA will continue supportingthe two countries’ cooperation and coordination to supervise joint keyprojects./.