Vietnam top leader invites Lao newly-elected counterpart to visit

Secretary General of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) and State President Nguyen Phu Trong has invited General Secretary of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party (LPRP) Central Committee Thongloun Sisoulith to visit Vietnam shortly after the Lao counterpart was elected to the post.

Secretary General of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) and State President Nguyen Phu Trong at the phone talk with Lao counterpart. Photo: Vietnam News Agency

The invitation was made in a phone talk held last weekend between the two party chiefs, one day after the 11th National Congress of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party (LPRP) concluded on January 15.

During the talks, Mr. Trong affirmed Vietnam’s strong and comprehensive support for Laos’ national building and safeguarding as well as the renewal cause.

The two leaders said keeping the great friendship, special solidarity, and comprehensive cooperation between the two countries is a strategic mission.

In turn, Mr. Thongloun Sisoulith invited Mr. Trong to visit Laos at an appropriate time.

At the National Congress, Mr. Thongloun Sisoulith outlined six targets under the country’s Ninth Socio-economic Development Plan for 2021-25, of which, the first goal is to maintain steady economic growth with quality, stability and sustainability.

Under the plan, Laos targets to achieve the annual economic growth of 4% and annual average per capita income of US$2,887 in the next five years.

In 2020, Laos celebrated the 65th founding anniversary of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party (LPRP).

In the same year, Vietnam and Laos stepped up legislative cooperation.

The two neighboring countries set up diplomatic relationship in 1962.