General Secretary and President of Laos welcomed and held talks with President To Lam

On the morning of July 11, Lao General Secretary and President Thongloun Sisoulith chaired the welcoming ceremony and held talks with President To Lam.

Lao General Secretary and President Thongloun Sisoulith and President To Lam. Photo: VNA

VNA reported that at 8:40 a.m. on July 11 (local time), the official welcoming ceremony for President To Lam and the high-ranking Vietnamese delegation on a state visit to the Lao People's Democratic Republic took place solemnly at the National Assembly Square in the capital Vientiane. Lao Party General Secretary and President Thongloun Sisoulith presided over the welcoming ceremony.

Lao General Secretary and President Thongloun Sisoulith welcomes President To Lam. Photo: VNA

The motorcade carrying President To Lam entered the central area of ​​the National Assembly Square amid the warm welcome of many students and people of the capital Vientiane in traditional costumes of the Lao ethnic people and holding the flags of the two countries in their hands. General Secretary and President of Laos Thongloun Sisoulith welcomed President To Lam.

President To Lam and Lao General Secretary and President Thongloun Sisoulith inspect the honor guard. Photo: VNA

After receiving a bouquet of flowers from children for President To Lam, the two leaders moved to the position of honor to prepare for the official welcoming ceremony. The military band played the national anthems of Vietnam and Laos. The leader of the Lao honor guard stepped forward to invite President To Lam to inspect the honor guard. President To Lam and General Secretary and President of Laos Thongloun Sisoulith inspected the honor guard together. At the end of the ceremony, General Secretary and President of Laos Thongloun Sisoulith and President To Lam cordially greeted and introduced the officials of the two countries present at the welcoming ceremony.

Officials of the two countries at the welcoming ceremony. Photo: VNA

Immediately after the official welcoming ceremony, President To Lam and Lao General Secretary and President Thongloun Sisoulith led high-ranking delegations from the two countries to hold talks to discuss measures to further deepen and effectively enhance the comprehensive cooperation between the two countries. President To Lam's visit to Laos took place in the context of the great friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and Laos continuing to develop well; the close and trustworthy political relationship continued to be consolidated; the two sides regularly exchanged visits and contacts at high and all levels; and increased the exchange of theories and experiences in Party building, socio-economic development and international integration.

View of the meeting. Photo: VNA

Economic, trade and investment cooperation continues to have positive changes; two-way trade turnover in 2023 reached more than 1.64 billion USD, and in the first 4 months of 2024 reached 620 million USD (up 10.6% over the same period in 2023). Vietnam currently has 241 valid investment projects in Laos, with a total registered capital of about 5.5 billion USD, maintaining the 3rd position among countries/territories investing the most in Laos. The fact that Laos is the first country that President To Lam visited in his new position is a testament to Vietnam's consistent policy of always giving the highest priority to consolidating and nurturing the great friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and Laos.

President To Lam speaks at the talks. Photo: VNA

The two countries upgraded their relationship from “traditional” to “great tradition” in February 2019 during the visit to Laos by General Secretary and President Nguyen Phu Trong. This is a milestone of great historical significance, creating a new breakthrough in the cooperative relationship between the two countries. Since then, the great friendship, special solidarity, and comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and Laos have become increasingly close, innovative, and developed.

Lao General Secretary and President Thongloun Sisoulith speaks at the talks. Photo: VNA

Before the official welcoming ceremony and talks with Lao General Secretary and President Thongloun Sisoulith, President To Lam and the high-ranking Vietnamese delegation laid wreaths at the Monument to the Unknown Soldiers of Laos in the capital Vientiane to commemorate and express gratitude for the contributions and indomitable fighting spirit of the outstanding sons of the Lao people who fell in the cause of liberating, protecting and building Laos.

Laodong.vn

Source: https://laodong.vn/thoi-su/tong-bi-thu-chu-tich-nuoc-lao-don-hoi-dam-voi-chu-tich-nuoc-to-lam-1364632.ldo