VIENTIANE (Vientiane Times/ANN): Secretary General of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party (LPRP) Central Committee and President of Laos, Thongloun Sisoulith met with the General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee, To Lam, at the LPRP Central Committee headquarters in Vientiane.
The meeting took place during a visit by a high-level Vietnamese delegation to pay tribute to former Chairman of the LPRP Central Committee and former President of Laos, General Khamtay Siphandone, who passed away on April 2.
President Thongloun, on behalf of the LPRP Central Committee, the National Assembly, the Lao government, the Lao Front for National Development, and the Siphandone family, expressed profound gratitude to To Lam and the Vietnamese delegation for their gesture of solidarity in sharing the sorrow over the great loss of the late President Khamtay Siphandone—a loss deeply felt by the Party, state, and people of Laos from all walks of life.
The Vietnamese delegation’s attendance symbolised the great friendship, special solidarity, and comprehensive cooperation between Laos and Vietnam, a relationship nurtured by generations of leaders and the peoples of both nations, he said.
President Thongloun praised former President Khamtay Siphandone as a revolutionary patriot and founding leader of the LPRP, who dedicated his life to Laos’ independence, development, and the well-being of its multi-ethnic people.
He highlighted former President Khamtay’s pivotal role in deepening Lao-Vietnamese ties, describing his passing as an immeasurable loss for Laos and a profound loss for Vietnam.
General Secretary To Lam conveyed condolences from the Communist Party of Vietnam, the Vietnamese government and people, honouring former President Khamtay Siphandone as a beloved friend and comrade who fought alongside Vietnam during their shared revolutionary struggles.
“The loss of former President Khamtay Siphandone, one of the founding revolutionary leaders, is not only a great sorrow for the LPRP, state, and people of Laos, and the Siphandone family, but also a great loss for the Communist Party of Vietnam, the Vietnamese government and people, and the People’s Army of Vietnam, who once fought alongside him in the revolutionary cause,” he said.
General Secretary To Lam, on behalf of the Communist Party of Vietnam, the Vietnamese government and people, expressed his deepest condolences to the LPRP, the Lao government, and the family of former President Khamtay.
He shared in their grief and encouraged them to overcome their sorrow, while continuing to advance the nation’s development.
The two leaders pledged to uphold the special Lao-Vietnamese bond as a vital principle guiding their nations’ futures, regardless of global challenges.
They emphasised the importance of translating grief into action by advancing socialism, national development, and mutual support.
The meeting concluded with mutual expressions of appreciation for decades of Vietnamese-Lao solidarity, from the days of anti-colonial struggles to modern-day partnerships.
The leaders expressed confidence that their relationship would flourish eternally, ensuring stability and prosperity for future generations.
On the same day, General Secretary To Lam also called on Lao Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone.
The Prime Minister, on behalf of the Lao Party, government, multi-ethnic people, and the Siphandone family, expressed heartfelt gratitude to To Lam and the Vietnamese delegation for their presence as a gesture of shared grief and solidarity.
He underscored the unique and unparalleled Lao-Vietnamese relationship, likening it to being “brothers in a single family”.
General Secretary To Lam conveyed sincere condolences from the Party, state, and people of Vietnam, particularly to the Siphandone family.
He expressed confidence that the Lao people and leadership would overcome this time of deep sorrow and continue to advance the cause of national construction on the path to prosperity. - Vientiane Times/ANN
