国际英语新闻:Laos, Cuba agree to cement traditional ties

VIENTIANE, Nov. 11 (Xinhua) -- Lao President Bounnhang Vorachit and visiting Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel agreed on Sunday to deepen the traditional friendly relations between the two countries.

The Cuban leader made an official state visit to Laos on Saturday and Sunday at the invitation of President Bounnhang, also general secretary of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party Central Committee.

Shortly after a welcome ceremony at the Presidential Palace, the two leaders held talks and later witnessed the signing of cooperation agreements on sports and banking.

They briefed each other on the situations in their respective countries, reviewed bilateral cooperation over the past years, and discussed future cooperation plans, state-run news portal Vientiane Times reported on Sunday.

The Lao leadership reaffirmed the consistent guidelines of the party and government of Laos in continuing to deepen relations and cooperation between the two countries, the Lao Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.

For his part, Diaz-Canel recalled the traditional ties between the two countries.

He reaffirmed Cuba's intention to extend further assistance to Laos in such fields as human resources development, sports and health.

On the same day, Diaz-Canel also met with Lao Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith and President of the Lao National Assembly Pany Yathotou.