Pyongyang, September 22 (KCNA) -- Choummaly Sayasone, general secretary of the Central Committee of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party and president of Laos, visited the Kumsusan Memorial Palace and paid tribute to President Kim Il Sung on Thursday.

He was accompanied by Thongloun Sisoulith, vice-prime minister and foreign minister of Laos and member of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party (LPRP) and chairman of the Committee for External Affairs of the LPRP, Bounpone Bouttanavong, member of the Political Bureau and secretary and secretary general of the C.C., the LPRP, Cheuang Sombounkhan, secretary of the LPRP Central Committee and chairman of the Propaganda and Education Ideological Committee, Phongsavath Boupha, minister and secretary general of the Presidency, Chansamone Chanyarath, member of the C.C., the LPRP and vice-minister of Defence, Chaleune Warinthrasak, Lao ambassador to the DPRK, and other suite members.

He was also accompanied by Kim Yong Il, alternate member of the Political Bureau and secretary of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea, Pak Kun Gwang, vice department director of the Central Committee of the WPK, and Han Pong Ho, DPRK ambassador to Laos.

A floral basket in the name of Choummaly Sayasone, general secretary of the Central Committee of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party, was laid before the statue of Kim Il Sung.

Choummaly Sayasone paid high tribute to the statue.

Choummaly Sayasone paid homage to Kim Il Sung who made immortal contributions to the development of the friendly relations between the two countries and global independence.

He wrote in the visitor's book that the party, government and people of Laos pay high tribute to President Kim Il Sung who rendered precious assistance to the Lao revolution and provided the traditional relations of friendship and cooperation between the two countries together with President Kaysone Phomvihane. The august name of the President and his great exploits will shine forever, he added.