Mr Dung and his entourage were welcomed at the National Assembly House’s Square in Vientiane by Lao Prime Minster Bouasone Bouphavanh. After laying wreaths at the unknown fallen combatants’ monument, Mr Dung had talks with his Lao counterpart Bouasone Bouphavanh in an atmosphere of openness, friendship and mutual understanding.

The two Government leaders expressed their delight at the time-honoured relations of friendship, cooperation and special solidarity between the two countries which have been constantly consolidated and finely developed in all fields particularly in economics, trade and investment in recent times.

Vietnam now has many investment projects totally valued at nearly US$500 million in Laos, focusing on electricity, forestry, mine ores, transportation and plantation of industrial crops.

The two PMs affirmed their determination to build mechanisms and policies to effectively explore the potential and strength of each country while boosting cooperation in economics, culture and science and technology. They said they will instruct sectors, ministries and localities to organise the 45^th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties and the 30^th anniversary of the signing of the Vietnam-Laos Friendship Treaty in 2007 and will also ask them to conduct regular exchange visits to further strengthen bilateral cooperation.

PM Nguyen Tan Dung said he is happy to attend the inauguration of Friendship Bridge No 2 over the Mekong River that links the Lao province of Savanakhet and the Thai province of Muk Dahan. Mr Dung appreciated the concerted efforts by Laos and Thailand as well as effective assistance from the Japanese Government in building the second bridge spanning the Mekong River which, he said, will greatly contribute to accelerating projects to connect the East-West corridor transport network.