Mr Sang made the statement while receiving Lao Minister and Chairman of the Presidential Office, Phongsavat Boupha, in Hanoi on March 30.

The State President highlighted Mr Phongsavat’s ongoing visit to Vietnam, saying that it would help strengthen the traditional friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between the two countries. The visit is of great significance as Vietnam and Laos are celebrating the 50^th anniversary of their diplomatic ties and the 35^th anniversary of the signing of the Vietnam-Laos Friendship and Cooperation Treaty, he added.

President Sang highly valued the effective cooperation between Presidential Offices of both countries and called for a closer relationship for mutual benefit. Two-way trade between Vietnam and Laos has increased steadily, reaching US$700 million in 2011. The two countries are striving to raise the figure to US$1 billion this year and US$2 billion by 2015, he said.

Mr Phongsavat affirmed that President Sang’s official visit to Laos early this year opened up a new chapter in bilateral relations and marked the 2012 Vietnam-Laos Friendship Year.

The same day, the Lao guest was received by his Vietnamese counterpart Dao Viet Trung, who also witnessed the signing ceremony of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on the two Presidential Offices’ cooperation, in presence of Mr Sang and Mr Phongsavat.

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