Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc arrived in Wattay international airport in Laos’s capital city of Vientiane on the morning of February 4 for the 40th meeting of the Vietnam-Laos Inter-government Committee to which he is the co-chair.

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc arrived at Wattay international airport in Laos’s capital city of Vientiane

On February 4, PM Phuc is scheduled to join with PM Thongloun Sisoulith in an inaugural and hand-over ceremony held for the scientific and technological human resources training centre and another ceremony to inaugurate the headquarters of the Star-Telecom Group.

PM Phuc will visit the Embassy of Vietnam in Laos and attend the Lunar New Year (Tet) programme with the embassy’s staff and representatives of the Vietnamese community in Laos. 

PMs Phuc and Sisoulith will co-chair the 40th meeting of the Vietnam-Laos Inter-governmental Committee on February 5, during which the two sides will review the cooperation between the two countries in 2017 and seek new, breakthrough solutions to improving the cooperation in 2018.

Vietnam and Laos set up diplomatic ties on September 5, 1962 and signed a Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation on July 18, 1977, which are considered important milestones in bilateral relations.

The two countries organised hundreds of activities during the Vietnam-Laos Solidarity and Friendship Year 2017, attracting the participation of all-level authorities, sectors and a large number of people. Notably, they exchanged nearly 300 delegations at all levels.

Vietnam and Laos have enjoyed close-knit traditional friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation. 

Trade between Laos and Vietnam topped 900 million USD in 2017, a year-on-year increase of over 10 percent. The two countries have set a target of 4 billion USD by 2020.

Vietnam and Laos have coordinated closely and supported each other at regional and international forums and increased cooperation with other ASEAN member countries in building the ASEAN Community and maintaining the bloc’s solidarity and consensus in strategic regional issues.-VNA