Lao vice president Bounnhang  Vorachith will visit Vietnam from July 17-20, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement.

The visit is made at the invitation of Le Hong Anh, permanent member of the Party's Secretariat and vice president Nguyen Thi Doan.

Vice president Vorachith is expected to attend a meeting to celebrate 50 years of bilateral diplomatic ties (September 5) and the 35th anniversary of the signing of Vietnam-Laos Friendship and Cooperation Treaty (July 18).

Vietnam and Laos are celebrating 2012 as a year of solidarity and friendship. They plan to increase bilateral trade to US$2 billion by 2015.