Hanoi (VNA) - The Paxason (ThePeople) newspaperof Laos on June 25 ran an article highlighting the upcoming visit to Vietnam byGeneral Secretary of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party and President of LaosThongloun Sisoulith from June 28-29, stressing that the trip is hoped to furtherstrengthen Laos-Vietnam special relations.

According to the article, the visit is the first official external activity of thehighest-ranking leader of the Lao Party and State after the 11th NationalCongress of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party (LPRP).

This is also the first official friendship visit to Vietnam by ThonglounSisoulith as Party General Secretary and President of Laos, it said.

Despite the complicated developments of the COVID-19 pandemic,the great friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation betweenVietnam and Laos still recorded fruitful and practical development acrossfields through various forms between the two Parties, States, and people, and betweentheir ministries, sectors and localities.

Political relations have been further strengthened with mutual trust, the articlesaid, noting that this plays a central role in directing the bilateral relations.

Cooperation mechanisms between ministries and sectors of the two countries havebeen maintained and proven effective, it said, noting that Lao leaders and publicopinion have highly valued Vietnam for sharing COVID-19 prevention experience with,providing material and spiritual support for, and helping Lao address natural disasterswhen Vietnam is also facing many difficulties.

The defence and security cooperation continues to be one of the importantpillars in the Vietnam-Laos relationship. The two sides have actively implementedthe five-year cooperation minutes and the annual cooperation plan on defenceand security, significantly contributing to maintaining political stability,ensuring security and order, social safety in each country.

The two countries have coordinated closely in implementing border regulationsand agreements between the two governments on dealing with free migration and unregisteredmarriages in border areas, and in searching for and gathering remains ofVietnamese soldiers and experts who laid down their lives while carrying out international missions in Laos.

According to the newspaper, in terms of economic, trade and investmentcooperation, Vietnam is now the third largest foreign investor in Laos with over413 projects worth about 4.22 billion USD.

In the field of education and personnel training, the two sides have coordinatedto implement a plan to improve the quality and effectiveness of education andhuman resource development cooperation between Laos and Vietnam in 2021 – 2022.Vietnam has granted 1,220 scholarships to Lao students.

Cooperation between localities, especially thosesharing borders, has been strengthened, especially in infrastructure development,health care, human resource development, and ensuring security, social orderand safety in border areas.

Laos and Vietnam have regularly worked closely and supported each other at regionaland international forums, the article said.

The above-mentioned cooperation results have importantly contributed to maintaining political stability andsocio-economic development in the two countries, further deepening the Vietnam– Laos great friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation, andimproving the positions and roles of the two Parties and States for peace,cooperation, development and stability in the region and the world.

The article showed the belief that the Lao leader’s visit to Vietnam will helpfurther bolster the bilateral relations, bringing practical benefits to theirpeople./.