Vientiane: At the Vientiane Administration Office, the Mayor of Vientiane, Mr Atsaphangthong Siphandone, formally received a courtesy call from the newly appointed Russian Ambassador to the Lao PDR, Sergey V. Seskii.According to Lao News Agency, during the meeting, Mayor Atsaphangthong extended a welcome to Ambassador Seskii. He valued the Ambassador's role as the representative of the Russian government, noting that his mission would contribute to strengthening the relations between Laos and Russia.The Mayor highlighted the cooperation between Vientiane and the Russian Federation, which has developed across sectors such as cultural exchange, education, trade, and investment.The Mayor also provided an overview of Vientiane's socio-economic development, with emphasis on the National Agenda for addressing economic and financial challenges. Priority areas discussed included strengthening domestic production networks to bolster the local economy, raising product standards to facilitate expansion into domest ic and international markets, and developing a skilled workforce and adopting modern, environmentally friendly technologies.The Mayor reaffirmed that the Vientiane administration stands ready to provide support and cooperation to ensure the success of the Ambassador's diplomatic mission.In response, Ambassador Sergey V. Seskii confirmed his commitment to fulfilling his duties to enhance the ties between Vientiane and Russia. The Ambassador pledged to facilitate further exchange and cooperation for mutual growth, stating that he would discuss the points raised during the meeting with his team to ensure they are effectively put into practice.