PM Pham Minh Chinh hosts Lao Deputy PM Saleumxay Kommasith

Chinh welcomed Kommasith’s visit in his capacity as head of the Laos Central Steering Committee for Trade and Transport Facilitation, and expressed his belief that the working visit would be a great success, making an important contribution to constantly strengthening the great friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and Laos.

He conveyed his regards and best wishes to General Secretary of the Laos People’s Revolutionary Party and President Thongloun Sisoulith, Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone and senior leaders of Laos, and at the same time proposed that the two countries’ Ministries of Foreign Affairs coordinate closely to best prepare for the exchange of high-level delegations in the coming time.

Kommasith for his part thanked the Government of Vietnam for always attaching importance and giving highest priority to cultivating the special relationship between Laos and Vietnam. He affirmed that the Party, State and people of Laos will continue to join the Party, State and people of Vietnam in preserving and cementing the great friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between the two countries.

Earlier the same day, Deputy Prime Minister of Vietnam Tran Luu Quang and Lao Deputy Prime Minister Saleumxay Kommasith held talks, discussing specific measures to implement agreements reached by the two countries’ senior leaders and the results of 46th meeting of the Vietnam – Laos Intergovernmental Committee on bilateral cooperation.

The two sides noted with satisfaction the positive developments and productive gains recorded in bilateral cooperation in all areas, from politics-diplomacy, defense-security to economics, trade, investment, culture and people-to-people exchanges.

Two-way trade turnover in the first five months of 2024 hit US$780 million, up 11% over the same period in 2023. Vietnam currently has 255 valid projects in Laos with a total investment capital of about US$5.5 billion.

In the context of complex developments regionally and globally, they stressed the need for the two countries to continue promoting all pillars of cooperation, and remove obstacles for key projects such as Vung Ang ports 1, 2, 3 and those connecting road and rail traffic of the two countries. They also agreed to expand and improve the effectiveness of bilateral cooperation in education, training, culture and people-to-people exchanges.

Exchanging views on regional and global issues of mutual concerns, the two sides agreed to increase the exchange of information, coordination and close cooperation at regional and international forums.

During his stay in Hanoi, Lao Deputy Prime Minister cum Foreign Minister Saleumxay Kommasith also had a working session with Vietnamese Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son.