Party General Secretary Nong Duc Manh made the remarks during a reception for a delegation of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party (LPRP) Central Committee’s External Relations Commission led by Somsavat Lengsavat, a Politburo member, Deputy Prime Minister, head of the commission and Foreign Minister of Laos in Hanoi on May 3. 

Mr Manh congratulated the LPRP on the success of the 8^th party congress, as well as the important achievements recorded by the Party, State and people of Laos in national construction and defence. He said he believes that under the leadership of the LPRP, the Lao people will obtain greater achievements in implementing its congress’s resolutions and early pull the country out of its underdeveloped status, creating a firm foundation for socialist-oriented national industrialisation and modernisation to successfully build a peaceful, independent, democratic, unified and prosperous Laos.

Mr Manh spoke highly of the contributions made by the two External Relations Commissions to the growing ties between the two countries. He extended his best regards to the Lao Party and State leaders and other senior officials and invited Party General Secretary Choummaly Sayasone to visit Vietnam.

For his part, Mr Lengsavat congratulated the Communist Party of Vietnam on the success of its recent 10^th congress and wished Vietnam further success in implementing the congress’s resolutions for the goal of a rich people, a strong country and an equitable, democratic and civilised society.

He informed Mr Manh about the results of the 8th LPRP Congress and the talks between the two countries’ delegations of the Party Central Committee’s External Relations Commissions. He affirmed the Lao Party, State and people are determined to strengthen the special friendship, solidarity and comprehensive co-operation with Vietnam.

He conveyed LPRP Party leader Choummaly Sayasone’s invitation to Mr Manh to visit Laos, and the invitation was accepted with pleasure.