Vice President Nguyen Thi Doan and her Lao counterpart Bounnhang Vorachith underscored the importance of fostering the two countries’ traditional friendship and comprehensive cooperation at their meeting on July 7 in Hanoi.

The two State leaders concurred to strengthen high-level visit exchanges and join efforts to realize agreements reached at the 37th session of the Vietnam-Laos intergovernmental committee, and prepare for the 38th session later this year.

They agreed to effectively implement cooperative agreements between the two foreign ministries including the annual ministerial level consultation meeting by the end of this year and stressed the need to soon complete and sign a protocol on the Vietnam-Laos borderline and markers and an agreement on border and border checkpoint management mechanisms by the end of the year.

Both sides agreed to carry out the new trade agreement and the Vietnam-Laos border trade agreement, boost transport connectivity and energy projects, accelerate the implementation of Vietnamese investment projects in Laos, and iron out snags for Vietnamese businesses in Laos

They also reached a consensus on continued cooperation at regional and global forums and coordinate with other ASEAN countries in building an ASEAN Community by the end of this year as well as maintaining ASEAN’s role in the region’s strategic issues.

They agreed upon the maintenance of peace, stability, security, and navigation and aviation safety and security in the East Sea in line with international law, particularly the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) with respect to the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC) towards building  a Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC).

Vice President Doan also affirmed Vietnam’s willingness to help Laos effectively perform its role as ASEAN Chair next year.

On the occasion, Bounnhang Vorachith invited Vice President Doan to visit Laos within this year and and his invitation was accepted.

The Lao Vice President is on an official visit from July 6-8 to at the invitation of his Vietnamese counterpart.

Lao Vice President pledges to foster ties with Vietnam

Lao Vice President Bounnhang Vorachith affirmed that Laos will spare no efforts to lift the special ties with Vietnam to new heights and implement effectively agreements reached by the two Parties and States.

Bounhang Vorachith, who is also Politburo member and Standing member of the Central Committee’s Secretariat of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party (LPRP), made the statement at his meeting in Hanoi on July 7 with Le Hong Anh, Politburo member and Standing member of the Central Committee’s Secretariat of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV).

The Lao official informed his guest on the outcomes of his talks with Vice President Nguyen Thi Doan.

The two officials exchanged notes on the organisation of Party congresses at all levels in their respective countries in preparation for the 10th National Congress of the LPRP and the 12th National Congress of the CPV.

They asserted the two countries will do their utmost to bolster the bilateral time-honoured friendship and cooperation.

On the same day, Vorachith met Minister Nguyen Tan Dung who said the current visit of Lao Vice President will give new momentum to the time-honoured friendship, special solidarity and all-faceted cooperation between the two nations.

PM Dung hailed the comprehensive outcomes in bilateral cooperation such as in politics, diplomacy, trade, investment, culture, education, and defence-security, as well as at regional and international forums, practically benefiting both countries.

He reiterated that Vietnam is resolved to join hands with Laos to reinforce their partnership in a result-oriented manner.

PM Nguyen Tan Dung asked both sides to closely coordinate to implement agreements reached by their leaders as well as possible, adding that Vietnam will do its utmost to assist Laos in performing its role as the ASEAN Chair in 2016.

During his official visit to Vietnam from July 6-8, the Lao Vice President also had a working session with Secretary of the Party Central Committee and head of the Party Central Committee’s Organisation Commission To Huy Rua, during which the two sides discussed Party building work.

On July 7, Bounhang Vorachith received a delegation of the national liaison committee for Vietnamese military experts and voluntary soldiers who used to work in Laos.

VNA