•  Former Party General Secretary recieves Lao State President

In his speech, Mr Sayasone praised Vietnam’s socio-economic achievements and its raised status in the international arena and in the region.

He said he believes that, under the clear-sighted leadership of newly elected leaders based on the 11^th National Party Congress resolution, the Vietnamese people will gain still greater achievements in their process of renewal and fulfill the target of becoming a modern industrial nation by 2020.

The Lao State President also spoke highly of the academy’s constant development and its contributions to the nation

Party leader Nguyen Phu Trong and Lao Party General Secretary and State President Choummaly Sayasone

and international missions. “The academy has helped train many Lao revolutionary cadres who are now working effectively or have become key Party and State leaders,” said Mr Sayasone.

He briefed the academy’s representatives on Laos’ significant recent achievements, which have contributed to maintaining political stability, speeding up economic growth and improving people’s living standards.

“We are making every effort to implement our 9^th National Party Congress resolution and the socio-economic targets for 2011-2015 with a focus on developing human resources, administrative reform, poverty reduction and improving infrastructure to help the country shed its status as an under developed nation by 2020,” said Mr Sayasone.

Regarding future relations between the two countries, the Lao Party leader affirmed that, despite the rapidly changing world situation, the ties of friendship, solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between the two Parties, States and peoples will still be consolidated based on respect for independence, sovereignty, and mutual help and benefit.

Both countries will pay more attention to educating their younger generations about the special Vietnam-Laos special relationship, the foundation of which was laid by late President Ho Chi Minh and Lao Presidents Cayson Phomvihan and Suphanuvon. This relationship continues to be fostered by Lao and Vietnamese Party and State leaders with great contributions from both countries’ soldiers and people.

Earlier, in his welcoming speech, HCMA Director Ta Ngoc Tan reaffirmed that the Vietnam-Laos friendship, an invaluable asset for both countries, is developing constantly through more effective cooperation and mutual assistance between agencies, businesses and social organizations, thus contributing to each country’s national development.

In addition to training personnel, the academy is cooperating with Laos to conduct scientific studies on building the ruling parties in Vietnam and Laos, and translating the works of Marx, Lenin, Engels and Ho Chi Minh into Lao.

The Lao Party and State praised the academy’s contributions to strengthening the friendship between the two countries and awarded it the Lao Itsala Order, first class.