The delegation led by Hoang Binh Quan, member of the Party Central Committee and Head of the Commission for External Relations, is on a working visit to Laos from November 3-7.

Mr Quan praised the significant achievements Laos has recorded in the first year of implementing its 9^th National Party Congress resolution, expressing his hope that, under the leadership of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party (LPRP), the people of Laos will continue to gain greater achievements in their process of national construction and defense and successfully implement their socio-economic development plan for 2011-2015.

The Vietnamese people will stand side by side with the Lao people to enhance the ties of special solidarity and friendship between the two countries for mutual development and prosperity, Mr Quan said.

President Sayasone praised the contributions the two External Relations Commissions have made to strengthening the time-honoured relationship between Laos and Vietnam. He said he hopes the two commissions will continue to coordinate closely, promote exchanges and share information and experiences to help each other implement their respective Parties’ external policies successfully. They should also start planning activities for 2012, which will be the Vietnam-Laos Friendship Year.

The Party, State and people of Laos will do their best to foster the special ties of friendship between the two countries, he added.

President Sayasone asked Mr Quan to convey his best regards to Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and State President Truong Tan Sang.

The same day, the CPV delegation also held talks with a LPRP delegation on promoting bilateral cooperation and implementing agreements reached by senior leaders, as well as regional and international issues of mutual concern.