Myanmar new President U Htin Kyaw is due to pay a goodwill visit to Laos Friday as his first foreign trip after his government took office on April 1.

At the invitation of his Lao counterpart Bounnhang Vorachit, U Htin Kyaw is to make the visit more than two years after former Lao President Choummaly Sayasone came to Myanmar on a state visit in December 2013.

U Htin Kyaw will be accompanied by State Counselor and Foreign Minister Aung San Suu Kyi, confirmed Spokesman of the President's Office U Zawv Htay.

Myanmar-Laos relations and cooperation in recent years were highlighted by the opening of the first-ever friendship bridge across the Mekong River in May last year.

The bridge, which links Myanmar's Tachileik in eastern Shan state to Laos' Luang Namtha Province, was inaugurated by presidents of both countries then.

Source: XINHUA