Cooperation with Laos, Cambodia top priority in Vietnam’s external policy
VOV.VN - Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh held a working breakfast with his Laotian counterpart Sonexay Siphandone and his Cambodian counterpart Hun Manet on September 5 as part of the occasion of attending the 43rd ASEAN Summit and related meetings in Jakarta.
The leaders informed one another of their respective nation’s socio-economic development, whilst exchanging views on common co-operation fields, as well as discussing regional and international issues of shared concern.
The realities of an independence struggle, national security and development, along with international integration has affirmed that continuously consolidating and tightening ties between Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia is an objectively essential need, holding great strategic significance for all three countries.
Therefore, the trio consented to continue maintaining regular bilateral and trilateral exchanges and contacts, with the working breakfast mechanism among the PMs of the three countries on the occasion of their attendance at international meetings in order to tighten solidarity, friendship, and co-operation. Indeed, it offers the chance to compare notes on regional and international issues of common concern, in addition to finding solutions to problems arising in the relations of the three countries.
The three leaders concurred to increase the overall effectiveness of existing trilateral co-operation mechanisms, including the early organisation of the 12th Cambodia-Laos-Vietnam (CLV) Development Triangle Summit and the first meeting of the Chairs of the three National Assemblies in Laos later this year. This is along with striving to promote exchanges and training of youths and young leaders in order to foster the future of co-operative relations among the three countries.
They said that security and defence linkages has made significant progress, with the group unanimous on the continued implementation of existing agreements and co-operation mechanisms, the sharing of information, and the improvement of collaboration efficiency in combating cyber and cross-border crimes.
The PMs underlined the need to have more policies and measures to facilitate trade and investment ties, with a specific focus on cross-border trade.
PM Chinh affirmed that links with Laos and Cambodia will always be a top priority in the Vietnamese foreign policy.
He therefore suggested that the three countries continue dealing with existing problems to swiftly finalise the land border demarcation and marker planting to build and maintain border lines of peace, friendship, co-operation, and development, for the ultimate benefit of the people of each country.
He voiced his hope that the Laotian and Cambodian governments will continue paying attention to and offering optimal conditions for the Vietnamese communities in the countries.
