•  Party leader pledge stronger bond with Laos
• PM proposes deeper Vietnam-Laos relations
• Exchange marks Vietnam-Laos Friendship Year

The signing, undertaken by Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh and Lao Deputy Prime Minister cum Foreign Minister Thongloun Sisoulith, took place when the two ministries met for their sixth friendship exchange meetings from March 17-20.

The two sides reviewed the development of relations between the two countries and the two ministries since the fifth exchange in Vientiane in June 2008.

Both expressed their delight at the results of bilateral cooperation in the fields of politics, national defence, security, economics, education and human resources.

They agreed to hold many practical and significant events during the Viet Nam-Laos Friendship Solidarity Year 2012, the 50^th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties and the 35^th anniversary of the signing the Friendship and Co-operation Convention.

The two sides spoke highly of the need to further cooperate for the sake of peace and stability in the region and the world, and the prosperity of the ASEAN Community.