Vietnam and Laos have affirmed their determination to maintain and develop friendly and all-round cooperative relations, their top leaders said here Monday.

The traditional friendly ties, special solidarity bonds and comprehensive cooperative relations between Vietnam and Laos have unceasingly been reinforced and promoted both extensively and intensively in all spheres, including politics, economy, culture, security, defense and foreign affairs, General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee Nong Duc Manh, and the Vietnamese State President Tran Duc Luong said when holding talks with Secretary General of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party and State President Choummaly Sayasone.

During the talks, the two sides agreed that Vietnam and Laos will maintain meetings and contacts among high-ranking officials of the countries in different forms, and expand cooperation among their ministries, sectors, localities and enterprises.

The two sides also agreed to strengthen bilateral cooperation in regional and international forums, especially within the framework of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), helping consolidate solidarity and cooperation in the regional grouping for peace and development of Southeast Asia as well as the Asia-Pacific.

Specifically, Vietnam and Laos agreed to join hands in better implementing projects within the West-East Corridor and the Greater Mekong Sub-region.

After the talks, Luong, on behalf of the Vietnamese state, handed the Golden Star medal, the noblest medal of the Vietnamese state, to Choummaly Sayasone for his contributions to the reinforcement and development of the friendly and cooperative ties.

At the medal-awarding ceremony, Choummaly Sayasone said the fine traditional friendly and all-round cooperative relations between the two countries' parties, states and peoples will be preserved and promoted regardless changes in regional and international situations.

Laos will make greater efforts to broaden and deepen the bilateral ties for the richness and power of the two peoples, and for peace, cooperation and development in the region and the world, he said.

After the ceremony, Choummaly Sayasone met with Vietnamese Prime Minister Phan Van Khai. The two sides discussed issues of mutual concern.

Choummaly Sayasone arrived here on Monday for an official four- day visit to Vietnam. He is scheduled to meet with Chairman of the Vietnamese National Assembly Nguyen Van An, and make a speech at the ongoing ninth session of the National Assembly, Vietnam's highest legislative body, on Tuesday.

Source: Xinhua