Top Vietnamese leader begins official friendly visit to Laos

Party General Secretary and President Nguyen Phu Trong at Wattay International Airport, Vientiane, Laos (Photo: VNA)

General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee and President Nguyen Phu Trong, and a high-ranking delegation of Vietnam arrived in Vientiane on February 24 morning, beginning an official friendly visit to Laos.

The two-day visit to Laos is made at the invitation of General Secretary of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party (LPRP) Central Committee and President Bounnhang Vorachith.

The Vietnamese leader and his entourage were welcomed at Wattay International Airport by Politburo member and permanent member of the Secretariat of the LPRP Central Committee Phankham Viphavanh; Politburo member, Secretary and Mayor of Vientiane Sinlavong Khutphaythoun; and many other Lao officials and the Vietnamese Embassy’s staff as well as Lao people.

A welcome ceremony will be held for Party General Secretary and President Trong at the Presidential Palace with the highest ritual for a head of state.

The Vietnamese leader is scheduled to hold talks with his Lao counterpart Bounnhang Vorachith following the welcome ceremony.

This is the first trip abroad by Nguyen Phu Trong in his new position as the top leader of the both Party and State, demonstrating Vietnam’s consistent policy of consolidating and enhancing the great friendship, special solidarity, comprehensive cooperation, close-knit ties and mutual trust between the two Parties and countries./.

VNA