Vietnamese, Lao leaders agree on cooperation orientations
Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and Lao Party General Secretary and State President Thongloun Sisoulith reached consensus on cooperation orientations between the two countries in the time ahead during their meeting in Hanoi on June 28.
Accordingly, the two sides will continue their close coordination to effectively realise high-level agreements, outcomes of meetings of the Vietnam-Laos inter-governmental committee as well as cooperation programmes between ministries, agencies and localities.
They will also further provide mutual support in COVID-19 containment and socio-economic recovery and development, while coordinating in implementing major joint projects.
The leaders consented to soon build the Laos - Vietnam friendship park in the Lao capital city of Vientiane, and work together to mark the 60th founding anniversary of bilateral diplomatic ties, and 45 years of the signing of the Vietnam - Laos Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in 2022.
Thongloun lauded Vietnam’s efforts and achievements in COVID-19 containment and socio-economic development, saying Vietnam was among a few countries in the world that have recorded positive growth last year.
Both leaders rejoiced at the development of the great friendship and special solidarity between the two countries. Two-way trade in the first five months of this year reached 570.7 million USD, up nearly 40 percent year-on-year. Vietnam has 208 valid projects valued at 5.16 billion USD in the neighbouring country.
They also looked at cooperation between the two countries within multilateral frameworks, especially ASEAN and sub-regional mechanisms.
The leaders shared views on a number of regional and international issues of shared concern, including the East Sea issue and the sustainable and effective use of the Mekong River’s water sources.
They concurred to continue their close coordination and mutual support, for peace, stability and development in the region and the world.
Later the same day, Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, State President Nguyen Xuan Phuc and their spouses hosted a banquet in honour of Lao Party General Secretary and State President Thongloun Sisoulith, his wife and the Lao delegation.
Addressing the banquet, Trong affirmed that Thongloun’s first Vietnam visit in his capacity as Party General Secretary and State President of Laos is an important political event, marking a milestone in the bilateral ties.
The Vietnamese Party, State and people will make every effort together with their Lao counterparts to preserve and promote the special ties in all spheres, for prosperity and happiness of the people of both nations, and for peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region and the world at large.
Echoing Trong’s view, Thongloun said the great friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between the two Parties, States and people of Laos and Vietnam will be protected, stressing the responsibility of generations of leaders to educate and pass on the tradition to younger generations.
General Secretary of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party (LPRP) Central Committee and President of Laos Thongloun Sisoulith also held separate meetings with former General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee Nong Duc Manh and former State President Tran Duc Luong in Hanoi on June 28 as part of his ongoing official visit to Vietnam.
He also vowed to work to raise next generations’ awareness of preserving and developing this relationship.
At the meetings, the former Vietnamese leaders stressed that the visit to Vietnam by Thongloun Sisoulith showed the loyal, warm and close relationship between the two peoples, contributing to affirming both countries’ consistent foreign policy of attaching special importance to preserving and constantly developing the great friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and Laos.
They expressed their belief that, with the reform policy under the leadership of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party, led by Thongloun Sisoulith, Laos will continue to reap even greater achievements, contributing to strengthening the friendship and enhancing the position of the two countries in the international arena.
On the occasion, Thongloun Sisoulith invited Manh and Luong to visit Laos at an appropriate time. The two former Vietnamese leaders sincerely thanked and accepted the invitation with pleasure.
