Fresh impetus to Vietnam – Laos relations
VOV.VN - The upcoming State-level visit to Laos by President Vo Van Thuong is expected to give fresh impetus to the time-honoured Vietnam – Laos relations that have developed substantively over the years, says a Vietnamese diplomat.
Deputy Foreign Minister Do Hung Viet told the media on April 7 that Vietnam and Laos are two close neighbours that have treasured a very special relationship built and nurtured by generations of leaders and people of the two countries throughout history. They have both stood side by side in the past struggle for national independence, as well as in the present-day cause of national construction and defense.
For the very special relationship, President Vo Van Thuong has chosen Laos as the first country to visit in his new position to reaffirm Vietnam’s consistent policy of attaching great importance to and giving high priority to the great friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and Laos, said Viet.
Amid the unpredictable and complicated developments regionally and globally, the President’s visit also shows Vietnam’s strong and comprehensive support for Laos’ renovation, socio-economic development and international integration, he said.
President Vo Van Thuong will pay an official visit to Laos on April 10-11 at the invitation of General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party, and President Thongloun Sisoulith.
President Thuong will hold talks with President Sisoulith, and meet with other senior Lao leaders, including the Prime Minister, Chairman of the National Assembly, and head of the Lao Front for National Construction. He will witness the signing of a number of cooperation documents between the two countries.
Among other activities, the Vietnamese President will call at the Vietnamese Embassy in Vientiane and meet with representatives of Vietnamese expatriates in Laos.
The President will also lay a wreath at the Monument to the Lao Unknown Martyrs and the Monument to President Kaysone Phomvihane in Vientiane.
The visit is anticipated to contribute to the effective implementation of high-level agreements of the two parties and countries, including the Vietnam - Laos strategic cooperation agreement for 2021 - 2030 and the agreement on bilateral cooperation for 2021 – 2025, said Viet.
Vietnam and Laos established diplomatic relations in September 1962. Bilateral relations have developed considerably over the years through regular reciprocal visit exchanges.
Vietnam currently has 219 valid investment projects in Laos with a total registered capital of about US$4.3 billion, ranking third after China and Thailand.
Two-way trade turnover between the two countries reached nearly US$1.7 billion last year, an increase of more than 25% year on year.
In 2022, Vietnam granted 1,155 scholarships to Laos, the latter also offered Vietnam 60 scholarships. Currently 14,000 Lao students are studying at 160 educational institutions in Vietnam.
Bilateral defense and security cooperation has been consolidated, following the signing of a letter of intent on rescue cooperation and rescue drills between the three countries of Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia. The two countries have also worked closely in gathering and repatriating the remains of Vietnamese volunteer soldiers and experts who had died in Laos.
The two countries have also strengthened border control, prevented illegal entry and exit, and combatted human trafficking, drug trafficking and transnational crime.
