Top Lao leader’s visit a milestone in Vietnam – Laos special solidarity: Party official

Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee and head of its Commission for External Relations Le Hoai Trung told the press that the visit was a vivid demonstration for the importance that the two Parties and States attach to the great friendship, special solidarity, and comprehensive cooperation between the two countries.

During his stay in Vietnam from September 10-13, the Lao leader held talks with Party General Secretary and President To Lam, meetings with Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man, former Vietnamese leaders, voluntary soldiers and experts.

Trung highlighted that the two leaders concurred to continue promoting the relations between the two Parties, States and peoples to a new high, and spent time discussing orientations to bolster the ties in a deep, substantive and effective manner across areas.

They consented to deepen political relations, enhance mutual understanding, and reinforce trust, which are the core guidelines for the overall relationship between the two countries, enhance information sharing, discussions and close coordination in strategic issues and policies related to security and development in each nation, step up theoretical discussions, especially on new issues, and raise public awareness of the special relations, particularly the youth and armed forces.

They reached consensus on the necessity to create breakthroughs in cooperation across economy, culture, education, and science-technique on the basis of capitalising on each country’s strengths and potential, as well as accelerate the effective implementation of agreements between sectors and branches of both sides.

They also discussed measures to remove bottlenecks, and create favourable legal frameworks for cooperation, particularly creating breakthroughs in economic cooperation, improving the quality and efficiency of cooperation and investment, including infrastructure connectivity projects.

According to Trung, the two leaders agreed to strengthen their defence and security cooperation to respond to increasingly diverse and complicated security threats, better the efficacy of cooperation between agencies of the two Parties, States, and organisations, while supporting each other in socio-economic development, and maintaining security, and stability in border areas.

Besides, they were unanimous to back each other at regional and international forums, enhance coordination in the management, and equal and effective use of Mekong River and related resources.

The East Sea issue was also on the table as the two leaders laid stress on ASEAN’s stance on the issue, and the significance of maintaining peace, stability, security, safety, and freedom of navigation and overflight in the water, as well as handling disputes via peaceful means and in accordance with international law.

Trung said that with a view to concretising the common perceptions reached between the two leaders, ministries, sectors and localities must be well aware of the meaning, and value of the Vietnam – Laos special relations, build specific programmes and plans to promote cooperation across areas, and work closely to remove roadblocks while implementing their collaboration agreements