President Tran Dai Quang busy in Laos

He hailed efforts made by the Association of Vietnamese Investors in Laos and businesses themselves to overcome difficulties and ensure their projects are implemented as scheduled. 

He asked the association and relevant ministries to maintain coordination with the Lao side to better facilitate operations of the businesses, with the focus on energy, mineral exploration, exploitation and processing, agriculture, tourism, finance and banking. 

Businesses were requested to raise their social responsibility in order to contribute more to reducing poverty, protecting the environment and ensuring social welfare. 

Vietnam currently ranks third among countries and territories investing in Laos. As of early 2016, the country had 258 investment projects with a total registered capital of US$5.3 billion in the neighbouring country. 

When in Vientiane, the State leader also had a meeting with Secretary General of the Laos-Vietnam Friendship Association Saykhong Sayasin, during which he affirmed that Vietnam gives the priority to consolidating and strengthening the Vietnam-Laos relations. 

He requested the two countries’ friendship associations continue close coordination to better educate their people on the time-honoured friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and Laos. 

The associations should also work together to organise activities to mark the 55 th anniversary of the Vietnam-Laos diplomatic ties and 40 years since the Vietnam-Laos Friendship and Cooperation Treaty was signed in 2017, he suggested. 

President Tran Dai Quang paid a visit to former Lao Prime Minister Thongsing Thammavong. 

He also visited the Kaysone Phomvihane Museum, and a memorial to late President Souphanouvong, and laid a wreath at the unknown martyrs’ monument in Vientiane. 

On the afternoon of June 13, the President and his entourage left Vientiane for Champasak province.