•  Lao NA President visits Ninh Binh province

A high ranking delegation led by Chairwoman of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic's National Assembly, Pany Yathotu, left Hanoi on August 27, successfully concluding an official visit to Vietnam at the invitation of Vietnamese National Assembly (NA) Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung.

During the stay in Vietnam from August 24-27, Mrs Yathotu held talks with NA Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung and met with Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, State President Truong Tan Sang and Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung.

The meetings took place in the spirit of friendship, special solidarity and mutual trust. Both sides affirmed to continue promoting the traditional ties of friendship and comprehensive cooperation between the two states and parliaments and coordinate closely at regional and international forums.

The two sides discussed implementing bilateral agreements and measures to boost cooperation in politics, economics, social issues, culture, education and, especially, human resources development.

They said that exchange visits will continue to consolidate and strengthen the special friendly relationship between the two countries and to mark the 50^th anniversary of diplomatic ties in 2012.

Mrs Yathotu and her entourage visited and laid wreaths at President Ho Chi Minh's Mausoleum. They also worked with the National Maize Research Institute and  the Bank for Investment and Development of Vietnam and traveled to Ninh Binh province.