Lao President Choummaly Sayasone said this when receiving credentials from DPRK Ambassador to his country Ri Sang Gun on Feb. 13.

The president noted that the relations between Laos and the DPRK are deep-rooted traditional ones of friendship and cooperation provided by President Kaysone Phomvihane and President Kim Il Sung.

He can never forget the privilege and honor of being received by leader Kim Jong Il and Marshal Kim Jong Un when he visited friendly DPRK in September 2011, he said, and went on:

Kim Jong Il was, indeed, a great leader who turned the DPRK into a powerful country with his Songun politics.

Now all service personnel and people of the DPRK are achieving great successes in increasing national capability, defending the security of the country and improving the people's living standard, single-mindedly united around the WPK headed by Kim Jong Un.

Being rejoiced over the fact that the friendly and cooperative relations between the two countries are growing stronger, he expressed the will to develop them onto a higher stage.