(VOVworld)- Party leader Nguyen Phu Trong said Vietnam will forever maintain and bolster the special friendship with Laos. At a reception for Laos’ Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Thoonglun Sisulith, in Hanoi on Wednesday, Trong praised the cooperation of the two countries’ governments, ministries and sectors in effectively implementing agreements signed by senior leaders of both countries. Laos’ Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister informed the Vietnamese Party leader of the outcomes of Party Congresses at various levels towards the 10^th National Party Congress of the Lao Revolutionary People’s Party, its foreign policy and preparations to join the ASEAN Community in late 2015 and to take the ASEAN Chair in 2016. He said Laos would cooperate with Vietnam to effectively implement agreements signed between leaders of the two Parties and countries.

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung receives Laos' Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Thoonglun Sisulit in Hanoi

At a meeting with the Lao delegation on the same day, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung said the Vietnamese government always tried to create the best conditions for Vietnamese enterprises to expand their investment in Laos. Dung said Vietnam encouraged Lao enterprises to promote investment and trade in Vietnam. He asked the two sides to work closely to make the 27^th ASEAN Summit and related meetings in Malaysia a success. He urged both countries to work with other ASEAN members to build an ASEAN Community of solidarity, development, and prosperity. The Vietnamese Prime Minister said Vietnam had always supported Laos to take the ASEAN Chair in 2016.

Laos’ Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Thoonglun Sisulit expressed his hope for Vietnam’s further cooperation, support and experience in Laos’ national development. He said Laos would work closely with Vietnam to promote bilateral cooperation in economics, trade and investment.