Vientiane Times FOREIGN MINISTER MEETS WITH LAO DEPUTY PRIME MINSITER AND FOREIGN MINISTER �� Ha Noi, July 20 (VNA) --Foreign Minister Nguyen Dy Nien met with Lao Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Somsavath Lengsavad in Ha Noi today, July 20, after the latter's arrival in the city for the 34th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting (AMM34). �� The two ministers exchanged views on issues related to preparations for the 34th Meeting of the Foreign Ministers of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the eighth ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF8), the ASEAN+3 ministerial meeting between ASEAN and China, Japan, and the Republic of Korea (RoK), Post-Meeting Conferences (PMC) with ASEAN dialogue partners as well as the regional cooperation conference of countries in the Mekong and Ganga basins. These meetings will be held in Ha Noi from July 23-28. �� They expressed their belief that with the good preparations made by the host country, Viet Nam, and with assistance from participant countries, these meetings would help to boost cooperation among countries in ASEAN as well as cooperation between ASEAN and other countries. �� The two ministers also compared notes on bilateral relations and international issues of common concern.--VNA **** VIET NAM-LAOS ECONOMIC TIES WILL BE GIVEN A BOOST, SAYS PRESIDENT LUONG �� Ha Noi, July 20 (VNA) -- State President Tran Duc Luong said he believed that the economic and commercial ties between Viet Nam and Laos would be strongly promoted in the coming years. �� The President affirmed that the Viet Nam-Laos relationship has been firmly preserved and constantly developed over recent years. �� Luong made these remarks while meeting with Lao Prime Minister Bounyang Vorachith and his entourage in the central port city of Da Nang on Thursday, July 19. �� Viet Nam's President also spoke highly of the talks between the Vietnamese and Lao Prime Ministers and the documents signed in Ha Noi on July 18, which included a credit protocol on the building of Highway 18B linking Viet Nam's central area with Laos's southern part. �� Luong told his guests that Da Nang in its position as a key area in central Viet Nam would broaden its ties with Laos's Savanakhet province in all sectors. �� Bounyang Vorachith conveyed the best regards from Khamtay Siphandon, Chairman of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party Central Committee and President of the Lao People's Democratic Republic, to President Luong and said the recent Laos visit by the Communist Party of Viet Nam Central Committee General Secretary, Nong Duc Manh, paved the way for closer traditional relations between the two countries. �� The Lao Prime Minister and his entourage also visited the Da Nang Industrial Park, Cham Museum and other economic and cultural sites in the city. They were also received by Nguyen Ba Thanh, Chairman of the Da Nang People's Committee.--VNA **** LAO LEADER INTERESTED IN HO CHI MINH CITY'S ECONOMIC EXPERIENCE �� Ha Noi, July 20 (VNA)-- Lao Prime Minister Bounyang Vorachith has shown his interest in Ho Chi Minh City's experience in poverty alleviation, animal husbandry and aquatic product processing. �� The Lao leader was talking with Secretary of the municipal Party Committee Nguyen Minh Triet on July 20. �� Prime Minister B. Vorachith highly valued the city's great potential in a number of areas, which, he said, would very much help Laos in national development in the coming years through the exchange of experiences. �� He said the two countries should increase the exchange of visits to learn from each other and develop their cooperation in order to attain the potential benefits from their relationship. �� In reply, Triet, who is also Politburo member of the Communist Party of Viet Nam Central Committee, said he believed the Lao Prime Minister's visit would contribute to an early deployment of the agreement reached by the top leaders of the two Parties and States. �� The special friendship and cooperation between the two countries, especially between Ho Chi Minh City and the Lao capital city of Vientiane, would certainly be developed, Triet emphasized. �� On the same day, Prime Minister B. Vorachith met with Ho Chi Minh City Mayor Le Thanh Hai. He appreciated the city's great achievements in socio-economic development, which he said should be further tapped in the cooperation between Viet Nam and Laos. �� The Lao leader also expressed his supports for continued development of the two countries' bilateral cooperative ties, in which Ho Chi Minh City plays an important role. �� In reply, Mayor Hai said Prime Minister B. Vorachith's visit would help boost the friendship and cooperation between the two countries as well as between Ho Chi Minh City, Vientiane, and Champassak province, serving the interests of both nations. �� After the reception, Mayor Hai hosted a banquet in honour of the Lao Prime Minister and his entourage --VNA **** BOUNGNANG'S VIETNAM VISIT FARES WELL VIENTIANE, July 20 (KPL) Prime Minister Boungnang Vorachith and his entourage left Hanoi yesterday morning, July 19, for the central port city of Da Nang, on the second leg of their visit to Vietnam. Before leaving the capital city, the Prime Minister and his delegation paid a floral tribute to President Ho Chi Minh at his mausoleum. They also laid flowers at the Hanoi Monument to Fallen Combatants. _________________________________________________ KOMINFORM P.O. Box 66 00841 Helsinki Phone +358-40-7177941 Fax +358-9-7591081 http://www.kominf.pp.fi General class struggle news: [EMAIL PROTECTED] subscribe mails to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Geopolitical news: [EMAIL PROTECTED] subscribe: [EMAIL PROTECTED] __________________________________________________
