President Truong Tan Sang told Lao Prime Minister Thongsing Thammavong on July 18 that Vietnam is always willing to assist and cooperate with Laos in socio-economic development and human resources training.

At a reception for the Lao PM in Hanoi, the President congratulated Laos for high GDP growth in the past five years amid the difficult regional and world situation, and the country’s rising status in the global arena.

He also thanked the Lao Government for facilitating Vietnamese investment projects.

Noting that this year, both Vietnam and Laos are organising Party congresses at all levels towards the National Party Congress, President Sang suggested the two sides regularly exchange experience for the success of those important events.

The President also vowed that Vietnam is ready to support and share experience with Laos in performing the role of the ASEAN Chair in 2016.

On his part, the Lao PM said he was impressed by the rapid growth in Vietnam’s border localities, especially the improvement in living standards in remote and mountainous regions. He stated that Laos has learnt a lot from Vietnam ’s experience in poverty reduction.

PM Thongsing Thammavong thanked Vietnam for effective help in socio-economic development, adding that he hopes Vietnam will continue aiding his country in human resources training to meet growth and integration demand.

Prime Minister talks with Lao counterpart

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung and his Lao counterpart Thongsing Thammavong agreed on measures to boost wide-ranging cooperation between the two countries during their talks in Hanoi on July 17.

Accordingly, the two nations will continue cooperation to implement effectively agreements reached at the two Politburos’ annual meeting and the 37th inter-governmental committee on Vietnam-Lao cooperation.

They concurred to increase high-level delegation exchanges, coordinate in organizing celebrations of major anniversaries, and share experience in organising the National Party Congress.

In the economic-investment-trade front, both countries will intensify coordination to boost trade in the second half of this year and bring two-way trade to 2 billion USD by the year’s end.

Regarding security, national defence and border matters, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung suggested the two sides closely work together to prevent terrorism and sabotage plots; encourage people to join management of shared border lines; improve the living standards of people in border provinces; and build a border line of peace, friendship, stability, cooperation and development.

He called for bilateral efforts to prevent drug trafficking and accelerate the search for remains of Vietnamese voluntary soldiers and experts who died in Laos during wartime.

The two Prime Ministers agreed to seek financial aid for the implementation of transport routes connecting the two countries and implement effectively the one-stop-check model at the Lao Bao- Densavan international border gates.

Both countries promised to push ahead with cooperation on education, agriculture, rural development, sports, culture, information and communication, science-technology, and tourism.

Discussing regional and international issues, the two PMs shared the view that the maintenance of peace, security, safety and freedom of navigation and aviation in the East Sea is the common interest and responsibility of all nations in the region and around the world.

They agreed to strengthen solidarity and coordination at ASEAN, regional and international forums to push for the settlement of disputes in the East Sea via peaceful means and in line with international law and regional agreements.

Vietnam will spare no efforts to support Laos to successfully perform the role as Chair of the ASEAN in 2016, PM Nguyen Tan Dung said.

He added Vietnam supports Laos in developing hydropower in the Mekong River for social-economic development. However, the Vietnamese Party, State and people hope that Laos will share the country’s concerns that over 20 million Vietnamese people in the Mekong Delta depends on the water resources from the river for their livelihoods, PM Nguyen Tan Dung said.

Prime Minister Thongsing Thammavong said the two sides needs to continue discussions about this issue and listen to the outcomes of the joint research on the impact on hydropower projects in the Mekong River, which will be unveiled in December 2015.

If the construction of hydropower dams on the Mekong River’s main stream has great impacts on the environment and people’s life, then we should not do it, the Lao PM said.

Party chief welcomes Lao Prime Minister

Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong proposed the Vietnamese and Lao governments continue coordinating to fulfill their responsibilities as members of the ASEAN Community while receiving Lao Prime Minister Thongsing Thammavong in Hanoi on July 17.

He also urged the two governments to direct their ministries, agencies and localities in actively implementing agreements signed between the two Parties’ Politburos.

The Party leader welcomed the Lao PM’s visit from July 13-18 and wished Laos success in implementing the five-year socio-economic development plan and organising Party congresses at all levels ahead the 10th National Party Congress.

He confirmed that Vietnam will do its utmost to elevate the all-around cooperation with Laos to a new height for mutual prosperity as well peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region and beyond.

General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong highly valued the two countries’ efforts in implementing effectively high-level agreements, including the cooperation agreements between the two governments, which contribute to ensuring political stability, security, national defence, and socio-economic development in each country.

For his part, the Lao government leader expressed his pleasure at the deepened friendship and comprehensive cooperation between the two nations.

He took this opportunity to thank the Vietnamese Party, Government and people for their valuable assistance to Laos and affirmed his country will work closely with Vietnam to implement effectively agreements reached by the two Parties and States to deepen the bilateral ties.

NA chairman receives Lao PM

National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung received the visiting Lao Prime Minister Thongsing Thammavong in Hanoi on July 17.

At the meeting, the host praised Laos’ recent socio-economic achievements and wished the 10th National Congress of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party will be a great success.

He informed the Lao government leader on the growing cooperation between the two countries’ legislative bodies and suggested that the two sides continue working closely together in external relations and in monitoring cooperative projects of their governments.

For his part, the Lao PM said his visit aims to learn from Vietnam’s useful experiences in socio-economic development.

Vietnam and Laos should continue to boost exchanges between high-ranking officials and enhance the implementation of agreements signed between the two governments in the fields of defence, security, economics, and trade, he added.

He also asked the Vietnamese National Assembly to share experience in amending the Constitution with the Lao counterpart.

Lao Prime Minister concludes Vietnam visit

Lao Prime Minister Thongsing Thammavong wrapped up his five-day Vietnam visit on July 18.

From July 13 – 16, the Prime Minister and his entourage visited Da Nang city, Quang Nam, Quang Tri, Quang Binh, Dien Bien and Son La provinces before arriving in Hanoi to meet with leaders of the Vietnamese Party, State and Government on July 17 and 18.

During meetings and working sessions, the Lao PM lauded the models for socio-economic growth and poverty alleviation that he saw in Vietnamese provinces and cities, saying that his country would research the application of those models in Laos.

He proposed strengthening ties between the two nations’ localities in education, health, agriculture, trade, tourism, among others.

The Lao government leader highlighted the sides’ work to ensure security as well as to build a shared borderline of peace, friendship and development.

His meeting with Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung focused on orientations to boost wide-ranging cooperation between the two countries, including the coordination to organize the 38th session of the inter-governmental committee slated to be held in Laos at the end of this year.

VNA