Vietnam's president visits Laos

VIENTIANE, Feb. 24 (Xinhua) -- Vietnamese President Nguyen Phu Trong arrived in Lao capital Vientiane on Sunday for a two-day visit at the invitation of his Lao counterpart Bounnhang Vorachith.

During the meeting held after the welcome ceremony, both leaders highly valued bilateral relations and cooperation over the past years and discussed direction for future cooperation to lift the relations and cooperation between the two countries to new heights, the Lao News Agency (KPL) reported on Sunday.

According to a joint statement, the two sides agreed to foster effective cooperation in economy, culture, education and public health among others.

Also on Sunday, Trong and his delegation also met with Lao Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith and other Lao officials.