State President Nguyen Minh Triet made the statement during his meeting with the Lao leader in Hanoi on April 24.

President Triet congratulated the Lao people on the great achievements they have made during the past 20 years of renewal, describing them as an encouragement to Vietnam’s national construction and defence process.

He said that he believes the Lao people will obtain greater achievements, successfully implement the resolutions adopted at that eight National Party Congress and lift their nation from its underdeveloped status, thus laying a firm foundation for the country’s industrialisation and modernisation.

For his part, Party leader and President Choummaly Sayasone expressed his deep gratitude to the Party, State and people of Vietnam for their valuable and assistance over the past few decades.

He highly valued the two countries’ efficient cooperation in recent years and said that the Party, State and people of Laos will join their Vietnamese counterparts to strengthen and develop their traditional friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation.

Both host and guest reiterated their countries’ consistent policy of preserving and expanding their relationship that was first established and fostered by the late Presidents Ho Chi Minh and Kaysone Phomvihane as well as the younger generations of Vietnamese and Lao leaders and people.

Later, the Lao leader left Hanoi for Ho Chi Minh City, continuing his visit to Vietnam.