Party General Secretary and National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Phu Trong and his entourage paid an official visit to the Lao PDR from June 20-22 at the invitation of Secretary General of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party (LPRP) Central Committee, President of Lao People’s Democratic Republic Chummaly Sayasone and his wife. 

Head of the Party Central Committee’s Commission for External Relations Hoang Binh Quan, granted an exclusive interview to a VOV reporter about the visit.

Reporter: Can you tell me the significance and the outcome of Party General Secretary and NA Chairman Nguyen Phu Trong’s friendship visit to Laos?

Mr Quan: This is the first foreign visit by Mr Trong as Party General Secretary and it came at a time when both Parties and nations have successfully organised their National Party Congresses and National Assembly elections. Both countries have recorded major achievements in all fields and the traditional friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between the two Parties, States and peoples has developed practically, effectively and deeply.

The visit met the expectations of both nations and gave a fresh impetus to bringing the special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and Laos to a new level in the coming years. It has also affirmed Vietnam’s strong support for Lao’s renewal (Doi Moi) process, national defense and construction, contributing to maintaining peace, stability, cooperation and development in the world.

During the visit, Mr Trong also held talks with high-level leaders of the LPRP, Government, and the Laos NA on the process of national construction.

Both sides affirmed their traditional friendship, special solidarity, and comprehensive and reliable cooperation, between the two Parties, States and peoples of Vietnam and Laos which was nurtured by late President Ho Chi Minh, and Lao President Kaysone Phomvihan and will be preserved by future generations.

The visit aimed to promote the relationship between the two Parties and States and continue to develop special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and Laos in future.

Reporter: What agreements did both sides reach to promote the Vietnam-Laos relationship?

Mr Quan: Both sides have affirmed the strategic significance of and determination to preserve the traditional friendship, special solidarity and cooperation in the new period for peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region and the world.

In this spirit, both sides discussed orientations and major solutions to promote the relationship between the two Parties, States and people on the following issues:

Firstly, strengthen contact among high-level leaders of the two parties and States to promote their cooperation and enhance national construction and defense. They also agreed on 2012 as the year to celebrate solidarity and the friendship between Vietnam and Laos.

Second, improve the efficiency and quality of economic cooperation to fully tap potential and advantages of each nation. Highlight the results of the 33^rd session of the Vietnam-Laos inter-governmental committee and co-ordinate to implement a strategic agreement on economic cooperation, culture, education, science and technology between the two countries in the 2011-2020 period as well as striving to achieve two-way trade turnover of US$2 billion by 2015. Both countries attach great importance to improving the quality of cooperation in education, training and developing human resources.

Third, strengthen cooperation in national defense and security to maintain stability, and political security in both nations, prevent trans-national crime and devise measures to complete upgrading the border demarcation by 2014. Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia will implement the agreements signed by the three Prime Ministers of the Cambodia-Laos-Vietnam development triangle.

Fourth, strengthen the exchange of information and support each other at multilateral forums, especially within the ASEAN and sub-region cooperative framework. This will benefit the people’s interests in both nations, contribute to building a strong ASEAN community and help maintain peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region and the world.

Fifthly, strengthen cooperation in preserving the water resource of the Mekong River in an effective and sustainable manner. It was also affirmed that both related parties will settle the East Sea issue peacefully in accordance with international laws, the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC).

Reporter: Mr Trong paid a working visit to Savanakhet province which has cooperative relations with localities in Vietnam. Has due attention been paid to this channel for cooperation among localities in both nations?

Mr Quan: Cooperation among localities of both nations, especially in border areas has contributed to developing the Vietnam-Laos relationship. In recent years, the relationship between provinces and cities have developed strongly and brought practical benefits to both sides. Especially, both sides will promote mutual cooperation in economic development, poverty reduction, cultural exchange and training and education and maintain security and social order in border areas, creating a borderline for peace, friendship, cooperation and sustainable development.

Currently, many provinces and cities in Vietnam are cooperating with Vientiane, Savanakhet and other localities in Laos. During the visit, leaders from both countries agreed to create favourable conditions to promote cooperation among localities to strengthen friendship in a sustainable, practical and efficient manner.

Savanakhet is a province with a revolutionary tradition and has cooperated with many Vietnam’s localities. Mr Trong’s visit was a vivid manifestation of the comradeship, and special solidarity between Laos and Vietnam.

The mass media has always played an important role in implementing the agreements signed effectively and developing the traditional friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between the two countries.

Reporter: Thank you very much.