Vietnamese Minister of Public Security Gen. To Lam held talks with his Lao counterpart, Sen. Lieut. Gen. Vilay Lakhamfong, following a welcome ceremony for the latter in Hanoi on February 20.

Lao Minister of Public Security Sen. Lieut. Gen. Vilay Lakhamfong (R) welcomed by Vietnamese Minister of Public Security Gen. To Lam

At the talks, Lam congratulated Laos on its recent great achievements and hoped that the Lao people would reap greater successes in the cause of national defence and construction.

He stressed that Vietnam’s Ministry of Public Security and its Lao counterpart  have regularly exchanged information about the international and regional situation related to national security as well as social order and safety of each nation.

The two ministries have also shared information about transnational organised crimes, hi-tech crimes, human trafficking crimes and criminal and drug-related cases regarding citizens of Vietnam and Laos, he said.

Public security forces in border provinces and districts of Vietnam and Laos have actively deployed measures to prevent and combat crimes and sabotage activities of hostile forces, thus safeguarding the shared borderline of peace, friendship and contributing to the enhancement of solidarity and reliable relationship between the people and public security forces of the two nations, Lam noted.

Regarding cooperation orientations in 2019, he suggested the two ministries continue the exchange of delegations and work experiences, and coordinate together to deal with arising problems, not letting hostile forces to distort and undermine the fine traditional friendship between Vietnam and Laos.

Lam also proposed the two ministries speed up negotiations so as to soon sign an agreement on the transfer of convicts and another pact on extradition, and strengthen cooperation in the fight against transnational crimes and hostile forces.

Vilay Lakhamfong affirmed that the close cooperation between the two ministries has helped deepen and reinforce the friendship and special solidarity between the Parties, States, people and public security forces of Laos and Vietnam.

He spoke highly of the outcomes of cooperation between the two ministries in 2018 and expected that the bilateral cooperative ties will be lifted to a new height.

Following the talks, the two ministers signed a bilateral cooperation plan in 2019 between the Ministries of Public Security of Vietnam and Laos.

Later, a ceremony was held to present orders and medals conferred by the Lao State and certificates of merit bestowed by the Lao Minister of Public Security to units and individuals of the Vietnamese Ministry of Public Security.-VNA