The governments, ministries and sectors of Vietnam and Laos should collaborate together closely to tackle bottlenecks to increase bilateral trade and speed up the implementation of key projects, said Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc.

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc (third, right) welcomes a delegation of the Lao Government.

PM Phuc made the statement while receiving a delegation of the Lao Government led by Deputy PM Sonexay Siphandone in Hanoi on October 24.

The delegation’s visit to Vietnam will make significant contributions to consolidating the special friendship and cooperation between the two countries, he said, adding that young generations are responsible for treasuring the sound bilateral relationship.

He asked Lao Deputy PM Siphandone to support the reform of business climate and create favourable conditions for Vietnamese enterprises to invest in the host nation.

Lauding the outcomes of the talks between Deputy PM Siphandone and his Vietnamese counterpart Truong Hoa Binh and working sessions between the Lao Deputy PM and Vietnamese ministries and agencies, PM Phuc said both sides need to carry out the inked agreements between the two governments and the minutes of the 39th meeting of the Vietnam-Laos Intergovernmental Committee.

Vietnam and Laos should bolster cooperation in the fields of security and defence, economy, trade, investment, education and culture as well, he added.

As the Lao National Assembly headquarters is among key projects of the two countries, both sides need to join hands to well carry out the project, PM Phuc stressed.

For his part, Deputy PM Siphandone expressed his sympathy over the losses of humans and property caused by recent downpours and floods and hoped that under the leadership of the Vietnamese Party and Government, residents’ lives in flood-hit areas will soon be stabilised.

At the earlier meetings with Vietnamese ministries and agencies, both sides agreed to speed up key projects including the Lao National Assembly building and energy development projects, he added, suggesting some measures to accelerate major cooperation projects.

The Vietnam-Laos Solidarity and Friendship Year 2017 is crucial to promoting the special friendship and cooperation between the two countries, he said.

Deputy PM Siphandone  thanked Vietnamese Party, Government and people for supporting Laos in the past struggle for national liberation and the construction process at present.

The Deputy PM believed that Vietnam will successfully organise the APEC 2017 Economic Leaders’ Week in Da Nang in November.-VNA