The top diplomat of Laos will visit North Korea from Tuesday to boost bilateral ties between the two countries, according to Vientiane.

Lao Foreign Minister Thongsavanh Phomvihane is visiting for five days at the invitation of his DPRK counterpart Choe Son Hui, Laos’ foreign affairs ministry announced on Saturday.

The ministry stated that the visit aims to strengthen the long-standing ties between the two countries and to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the first meeting between former Lao leader Kaysone Phomvihane and then-DPRK leader Kim Il Sung in Pyongyang in 1965.

The visit comes after Lao President Thongloun Sisoulith visited