Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc and his Lao counterpart Thongloun Sisoulith have agreed to give the top priority to nurturing the bilateral traditional friendship and special solidarity, regarding this as a vital and decisive factor to ensure the victory of each country’s revolutionary cause.

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc (L) and his Lao counterpart Thongloun Sisoulith meet the press after their talks

The two government leaders reached the consensus during their talks in Vientiane on April 26 on the occasion of Phuc’s first official visit to Laos in his position as Vietnamese Prime Minister from April 26-27.

They concurred to implement more effectively high-level agreements, especially the Joint Statement issued on the official visit to Laos by Vietnam’s Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong in November 2016 and the Joint Statement released on the visit to Vietnam by Laos’ Party General Secretary and President Bounnhang Volachith in April 2016.

The two sides vowed to build on the outcomes gained at the 39th meeting of the Vietnam-Laos Intergovernmental Committee on bilateral cooperation and do their best to carry out the Vietnam-Laos bilateral cooperation agreement in 2016-2020.

The Vietnamese and Lao governments will map out long-term collaboration orientations for the sustainable development of the two countries’ relations, driving economic-trade growth while ensuring social welfares and environmental protection.

The two PMs also agreed to enhance high-level delegation exchanges and effectively deploy bilateral cooperation mechanisms along with increasing political trusts and cooperation efficiency in the fields of politics, external affairs, security-defence, economics, trade and investment.

The two sides aim to increase two-way trade value in 2017 by 10 percent against 2016 and step up connectivity between the two economies, particularly in energy and transport.

Both leaders pledged to carry out efficiently signed agreements, particularly the protocol on cooperation in defence and security in 2016-2020, the protocol on border line and national border markers, the agreement on border and border gate management regulations, the Memorandum of Understanding on bilateral transport cooperation strategy in 2016-2025 with a vision towards 2030, and the agreement on building Vientiane-Pacxan-Thanh Thuy-Hanoi highway.

They agreed to enhance cultural and people-to-people exchanges and jointly organise activities to celebrate the 55th anniversary of diplomatic ties and the 40th anniversary of signing the Vietnam-Laos Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation.

PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc took the occasion to present his Lao counterpart and the Lao people with the Vietnamese-Lao and Lao-Vietnamese dictionaries with the hope of helping the two countries’ people, especially the youngsters, to learn each other’s languages, thus increasing mutual understanding and strengthening special solidarity.

The two PMs agreed to bolster affiliation in education and training, which has been a bright spot in bilateral cooperation.

They also affirmed to strengthen coordination at regional and international forums such as the United Nations (UN), the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), and sub-regional cooperation mechanisms, as well as support each other’s initiatives and activities within the framework of ASEAN.

Host and guest vowed to step up cooperation with each other and with other countries and international organisations for the sustainable and effective use and management of water resources in the Mekong River on the basis of ensuring the harmony in benefits of countries in the Mekong basin, especially those downstream. They noted the need to have mechanisms for bilateral coordination and coordination with other stakeholders to assess and monitor the impacts of the use of river water resources.

The two sides also stressed the importance of maintaining peace, stability, security, safety and freedom of navigation and aviation in the East Sea; settling disputes via peaceful means and international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS); implementing fully and effectively the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC), and soon reaching a Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC), looking towards finalising a framework of the COC in mid-2017, thus contributing to preserving peace, security, stability, cooperation and development in the region and in the world.

After the talks, the two PMs witnessed the signing of cooperation documents between Vietnam and Laos.

The two countries have issued a Joint Statement on the occasion of PM Phuc’s official visit to Laos. 

Vietnam, Laos issue joint statement

Vietnam and Laos have issued a joint statement during Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc’s official visit to Laos from April 26-27, emphasising the two sides agreed to increase bilateral cooperation between ministries, sectors and localities.

They concurred to disseminate and effectively implement the Protocol on border line and border markers between Vietnam and Laos and the agreement on regulations on border and border gate management. 

They affirmed the importance of and reached a consensus on strengthening bilateral economic cooperation, while effectively implementing signed agreements. The two sides aim to increase two-way trade value in 2017 by 10 percent against 2016 and step up connectivity between the two economies, particularly in transport and energy.

The two sides also agreed to bolster affiliation in education and training, which has been a bright spot in bilateral cooperation.

They affirmed to strengthen coordination at regional and international forums such as the United Nations (UN), the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), and sub-regional cooperation mechanisms, as well as contributions to building the strong ASEAN Community, increasing solidarity and unity and promoting the central role of ASEAN in the regional architecture.

They agreed to work with international organisations to ensure sustainable and effective use and management of the Mekong River on the basis of ensuring the harmony in benefits of countries in the Mekong basin, especially those downstream. They noted the need to have mechanisms for bilateral coordination and coordination with other stakeholders to assess and monitor the impacts of the use of river water resources.

Both countries stressed the importance to maintaining peace, stability, security and safety in the East Sea and settling disputes in the East Sea by peaceful means in line with international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS); implementing fully and effectively the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC), and soon reaching a Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC), looking towards finalising a framework of the COC in mid-2017, thus contributing to preserving peace, security, stability, cooperation and development in the region and in the world.

Vietnam, Laos launch year of solidarity, friendship

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc and his Lao counterpart Thongloun Sisoulith launched the Vietnam-Laos Solidarity and Friendship Year 2017 at a ceremony in Vientiane on April 26.

The event was part of activities to celebrate 55 years of the countries’ diplomatic relations and 40 years of the signing of the Vietnam-Laos Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation.

In his speech, PM Sisoulith said the launch of the Vietnam-Laos Solidarity and Friendship Year 2017 was an occasion to declare to the world the importance of the friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between the two countries. They were set up by late Presidents Ho Chi Minh, Kaysone Phomvihane and Souphanouvong and have been nurtured by generations of Vietnamese and Lao people.

The countries’ relations have been growing since the establishment of diplomatic ties, especially since the signing of the treaty in 1977, he said, noting that the ties have been fruitful across the fields, bringing practical benefits for their people.

Locality-to-locality connections have also been strengthened, helping to boost trade and investment partnership, he added.

Speaking at the ceremony, PM Phuc described the Vietnam-Laos and Laos-Vietnam Solidarity and Friendship Year 2017 as a milestone that marks a great stride in the two countries’ special relations.

Over the last 55 years, their traditional friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation have been deepened and expanded in all aspects. What they have achieved is a priceless asset created by generations of Vietnamese and Lao leaders and people, he stressed.

He voiced his belief that with joint efforts, the Year will be successful, contributing to the “forever green and forever sustainable” friendship and solidarity of the two nations.

Both leaders said they believe practical and meaningful celebrations during the Year will intensify bilateral links and help educate their people, especially the young, on the two countries’ special relations.

VNA