Bermudez, the first vice president of both the Council of Ministers and the Council of State, held a bilateral meeting with his Lao counterpart Vice President Bounnhang Vorachit in Laos' capital of Vientiane during his visit. In the meeting the two exchanged ideas on regional and international issues of mutual interest, the release said.

　　Bermudez also met with Lao President Choummaly Sayasone to convey Cuban President Raul Castro's invitation to him to make an official visit to Cuba at a suitable time.

　　According to the press release, Vorachit and Bermudez both expressed a strong desire to beef up their countries' traditional relationship and close cooperation. Vorachit thanked Bermudez and the government of Cuba for their great assistance to Laos in the past, and their present assistance in national defense and development.

　　The Communist Party of Cuba was an important supporter of the Lao Communist Party during the Lao Civil War. More recently, Cuba has cooperated in helping Laos to develop its agriculture, human resources, sports and health sectors. Last year, the Cuban government donated nearly 200 tons of sugar to Laos to help malnourished youth in the country's rural areas.

　　The Lao Foreign Ministry described Bermudez's visit as "one of the important events in Laos-Cuba relations" that has developed traditionally friendly relations to "a new height" for the mutual benefit of both.

　　Bermudez expressed his pleasure for having the opportunity to visit Laos, one of South East Asia's least developed nations, to see the ongoing development of the country and the people of Laos.