Top Lao leader’s state visit to Vietnam demonstrates great friendship

In his recent writing, deputy head of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee’s Commission for External Relations Nguyen Minh Tam described the Lao leader’ visit as an important milestone in the history of the bilateral relations, contributing to bolstering the friendship, solidarity, and comprehensive cooperation to a new high, and in an effective and substantive fashion that helps bring prosperity to the two peoples.

Over the past time, the political relations have been enhanced, with political confidence playing a key role in shaping up the orientations of the bilateral ties, he said, stressing both sides have affirmed their great friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive collaboration are a common invaluable asset of the two Parties and peoples, an objective necessity, a historic rule, and a source of the greatest strength for the two nations that need to be preserved, promoted and handed down to future generations.

They have promoted their existing cooperation mechanisms, while reviewing, adjusting and carrying out new ones, focusing on discussions about their cooperation in strategic issues, as well as policies related to the security and development of each nation. A wide range of external activities between high-ranking leaders of the two Parties and States have been arranged, and various cooperation agreements across important domains have been signed, helping deepen the comprehensive cooperation relations in the new period.

According to Tam, the two countries have enhanced thereotical discussions, inform each other their situations, and share experience in building the Party and political system, developing socio-economy, ensuring macro-economic stability, maintaining defence-security, and expanding external relations, and interational integration. They have accelerated communications work to educate their people of the history and tradition of the special Vietnam – Laos ties, and outstanding achievements, while working together to build and renovate historic relic sites dedicated to the bilateral ties in each nation.

High-ranking leaders and heads of ministries, sectors and branches have sent messages of congratulations to each other on the occasion of the establishment of each Party, and many anniversaries, showing their close affection. Besides, they have presented orders and medals to individuals and organisations with excellent achievements and contributions to consolidating and enhancing the special relations.

In the same vein, the defence-security cooperation has been maintained, being an important pillar in the bilateral relations that helps maintain political stability, and assure defence-security and social order in each nation. They have joined hands to well implement the protocol on defence and security collaboration for the 2020-2024 period, and a cooperation plan in 2024, while continuing effectively carrying out such mechanisms as the defence policy dialogue, and security cooperation conference. Besides, the two sides have worked to ensure security, maintain their boder areas of peace and social order, fight “peaceful evolution”, “riotous overthrow”, and transnational crimes, particularly drug ones, and coordinate in the search and repatriation of the remains of the Vietnamese voluntary soldiers and experts who laid down their lives during wartime in Laos.

In his writing, Tam underlined that the external relations between the two countries have been maintained and enhanced. They have joined hands with Cambodia to bring into play the outcomes of the meeting of the leaders of the three Parties, agreement on the development triangle area among the three Prime Ministers, joint statement among the three top legislators, and plan to connect the three economies until 2030.

The two sides, he continued, have effectively carried out the consultation and information exchange mechanisms between the two Parties’ external relations commissions, foreign ministries and other external agencies, adding they have worked closely with, and supported each other at regional and international forums, especially in ASEAN, ASEAN-led mechanisms, Mekong sub-regional cooperation mechansms, and the UN, contributing to maintain peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region and the world.

Furthermore, they have joined hands to implement the protocol on the Vietnam – Laos borderline, and national boder markers, and border and border gate management regulations, while protecting the legitimate rights and interests of their citizens and legal entities, creating favourable conditions for the Vietnamese and Lao living and working in each other’s territory in accordance with legal regulations in each nation and international practice.

Additionally, the two countries have stepped up collaboration across economy, trade and investment, with various agreements and documents signed to create a comprehensive legal corridor for cooperation. They have also exchanged experience in macro-economic management.

To date, Vietnam has injected more than US$5.5 billion in 256 projects in Laos, making contributions to the host nation’s socio-economic development.

Last year, two-way trade reached US$1.6 billion, while the figure during January-August was around US$1.3 billion.

The two sides have also paid due attention to promoting cooperation in transportation, power, agro-forestry, rural development, culture,
education-training, and people-to-people exchange.

In the coming time, Vietnam’s consistent policy is to give its leading priority to developing the cooperation ties with Laos in a deep, effective and sustainable fashion, seeing it a strategic mission, and top concern in its external policy.

The two countries will continue enhancing coordination in strategic guidelines and policies, boosting confidence, and helping each other build strong revolutionary forces, with Party and personnel building seen as a decisive factor for each Party’s leadership role, and a firm political foundation to promote the efficacy of the Vietnam – Laos comprehensive cooperation partnership.

Tam stressed that they will enhance leadership, and direct close and harmonious coordination between ministries and sectors in all areas, affirming that the political relations will play a key role and shape up orientations for the bilateral ties, while people-to-people friendship will be a firm social basis, collaboration in defence, security and external affairs a pillar, that in economy, trade and investment a long-term foundation, and that in culture, education-training a strategic issue.

Amidst rapid and complicated situations in the region and the world, two sides continue affirming the importance and strategic significance of the special solidarity, and agree to enhance the comprehensive cooperation partnership based on promoting their independence, self-reliance, and equal and win-win cooperation so as to successfully carry out the renewal process in each nation.

He added that the state visit to Vietnam by Sisoulith will help develop the bilateral ties to a new high for the practical interests of the two peoples, and for peace, stability and development in the region and the world.