HANOI, Feb. 24 (Xinhua) -- Lao President Choummaly Sayasone met Chief of Staff of the Myanmar Armed Forces General Thura Shwe Mannin Vientiane to discuss the continued exchange of border security delegations to ensure a secure shared border, the Lao newspaper Vientiane Times reported Tuesday.

    General Thura Shwe Mann, who is also Coordinator of Special Operations (Army, Navy and Airforce) and a member of the State Peace and Development Council, paid a two-day visit to Laos in response to an invitation from Lao Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defense Lieutenant General Duangchay Phichit.

    General Thura Shwe Mann was earlier welcomed by a Lao delegation led by Lieutenant General Duangchay at an official welcoming ceremony held at the National Defense Ministry.

    After the ceremony, the two sides informed each other about socio-economic, national security and defense developments in their respective countries.

    Both sides reviewed bilateral cooperation efforts between the two armies, which has facilitated trade across the shared border and helped to improve the living standards of people in both countries.

    The two sides discussed future cooperation efforts, particularly regular exchanges of information regarding cross-border issues. They also discussed measures to prevent the illegal passage of people, goods and drugs across the two countries' border.