HA NOI — Ha Noi and Vientiane played an important role in realising co-operative ideas set by the leaders of their respective countries.
State President Truong Tan Sang made this remark while receiving Vientiane Party Committee Secretary and Mayor Soukanh Mahalat in Ha Noi yesterday.
The State leader said the successful results of visits by the two countries' delegations at high and local levels had made important contributions to consolidating and strengthening the traditional friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive co-operation between the two Parties, two States and people of Viet Nam and Laos.
President Sang expressed his wish that the Ha Noi-Vientiane co-operation would further develop and Vientiane would harvest new achievements in its development.
He suggested the two capital cities closely co-ordinate in organising programmes and activities to mark the important celebrations in the Viet Nam-Laos relationship in 2012, including the 50th anniversary of the two countries' diplomatic ties and 35 years of the signing of the Viet Nam-Laos Friendship and Cooperation Treaty.
For his part, Soukanh Mahalat affirmed his efforts to foster the solidarity, friendship and co-operation between Viet Nam and Laos in general and between Vientiane and Vietnamese localities, including Ha Noi in particular.
He informed the host of the results of his talks with Ha Noi Party Committee Secretary Pham Quang Nghi, stressing that the two sides set out orientations for future co-operation to make the Vientiane-Ha Noi twin relationship more effective and practical.
The Vientiane leader thanked Ha Noi for its assistance to the Lao capital city in building cultural and educational works such as the Vientiane School of Politics and Public Administration and vocational training centres for the Vientiane people.
Earlier, the Vientiane Mayor held talks with Ha Noi Party Committee Secretary Pham Quang Nghi during which the two sides agreed to continue boosting their comprehensive co-operation and increasing the exchange of delegations at all levels.
Ha Noi will actively assist Vientiane in personnel training, economic development and Party building.
The two sides will strengthen the sharing of experience in capital city management and building, boost investment promotion programmes and enhance bilateral co-operation in culture, sports, tourism and health.
On the same day, the Vientiane guests were received by Chairman of Ha Noi People's Committee Nguyen The Thao. — VNS
