Lao press highlight Party chief’s visit to Vietnam

The recent official friendly visit to Vietnam by Lao Party General Secretary and President Bounnhang Volachith grabbed the headlines in major Lao newspapers on April 28.

In its story, the “PathetLao” (Lao Nation) said that during his trip to the neighbouring country, Bounnhang Volachith received a hearty welcome from Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and other Vietnamese Party, State and National Assembly leaders, and local people.

Reviewing the Lao leader’s major activities in the country from April 25-27, the article said apart from talks and bilateral meetings with the Vietnamese hosts, he paid tribute to President Ho Chi Minh at his mausoleum, laid wreaths at the Monument to Heroic Martyrs and visited the Hanoi based Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics (NPA) where over 400 Lao students are studying.

President Tran Dai Quang (R) and Lao Party General Secretary and President Bounnhang Volachith

As the first overseas diplomatic activity of Bounnhang Volachith since he was elected as the Lao Party chief and President, the visit demonstrates that Laos always attaches importance to the relationship with Vietnam, the paper stressed.

The newspaper also devoted the entire page two to introducing the full text of the Vietnam-Lao Joint Statement which was issued during the visit.

Also, the “Pasaxon” (People) said Vietnamese and Lao Party and State leaders appreciated and noted with pleasure the special comprehensive cooperation between the two countries, which has thrived in both depth and width, despite regional and global uncertainties.

The bilateral political ties have been consolidated, as evidenced through regular exchanges of high-level visits, the article said, adding that bilateral collaboration in economy, trade, investment, education, culture, science and technology has also been expanded, bringing pragmatic interests to both.

Mainly focusing on the Lao leader’s visit to the NPA, the “Vientiane Times” quoted his speech delivered at the academy as saying that almost all Lao high-ranking officials had enrolled in the school.

These officials are valuable human resources who have contributed to national development and defence in their homeland as well as the bilateral relationship, it said.

The “LaoPhatthana” (Lao Development) newspaper highlighted the two sides’ consensus on the East Sea issue.

The two sides stressed the importance of maintaining peace, stability, security and safety in the East Sea, and advocated the settlement of disputes in the sea through peaceful measures and in line with international law.

They will also work with other relevant sides to fully and sucessfully effectuate the Declaration on the Conduct of Parities in the East Sea (DOC) and soon reach a Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC) to preserve peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region and the world at large, the newspaper said.

On April 26-27, Lao newspapers also highlighted Bounnhang Volachith’s activities in Vietnam as well as the host country’s warm welcome for the leader.