Vietnam gives top priority to great relations with Laos
VOV.VN - Vietnam attaches importance to and prioritizes its great relationship, special solidarity, and comprehensive cooperation with Laos, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh told his Lao counterpart Sonexay Siphandone during their meeting in Vientiane on October 8.
Chinh, who arrived in Vientiane the same day for the 44th and 45th ASEAN Summits and related meetings, also affirmed that Vietnam continuously strives to nurture and cultivate the Vietnam-Laos relationship to ensure its sustainable and deep development.
He expressed joy at the positive developments of Vietnam – Laos ties in recent times on the back of a high level of political trust, effective cooperation in the fields of economy, trade, defense - security, culture and tourism, as well as locality - to - locality cooperation.
With regard to future directions, Chinh highlighted the need for both sides to continue enhancing effective cooperation in areas such as digital transformation, green transformation, circular economy, high-tech agriculture, and food security. He also stressed the importance of training high-quality human resources and jointly preserving sites that commemorate the special solidarity between Vietnam and Laos. He expressed hope that Laos would continue to facilitate Vietnamese businesses’ operation in the country.
Chinh appreciated Laos’ thorough preparations for ASEAN Summits and related meetings, and expressed a desire for both countries to coordinate more closely with each other and with other ASEAN member states to maintain and strengthen unity and consensus within the grouping, ensuring a unified stance on regional issues.
Vietnam is ready to enhance coordination with Laos and other countries to ensure the success of these meetings, contributing to the prestige of Laos as well as the unity and consensus of ASEAN, said Chinh.
Siphandone for his part thanked Vietnam for its heartfelt support and strong assistance to Laos in its historical struggle for national liberation as well as in its current development efforts. He affirmed that the Lao government would closely coordinate with the Vietnamese government to effectively and timely implement projects by Vietnamese businesses investing in Laos.
The two PMs agreed to closely coordinate and effectively implement the high-level agreements between the two countries, including the outcomes of the recent meeting between the two Politburos of Vietnam and Laos. They vowed to ensure security, order, and social safety; strengthen security and defense cooperation; and enhance comprehensive connectivity between the two economies, particularly in infrastructure, transportation, investment, and tourism.
In the context of a complex and rapidly changing global situation with various intertwined challenges and opportunities, the two PMs highlighted the value of solidarity among Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia. They agreed to continue working together with Cambodia to make the trilateral cooperation increasingly substantive and effective, meeting the practical needs of the three countries as well as development goals in this new period.
