The Ministries of Public Security of Vietnam and Laos have agreed to intensify cooperation in the fight against organised, trans-national and hi-tech crimes as well as human trafficking and drug smuggling.

During their talks in Vientiane on January 15, Vietnamese Minister Tran Dai Quang and Lao Acting Minister Somkeo Silavong pledged to coordinate in hunting for cross-border wanted persons, and consider the signing of agreements on criminal extradition and the transfer of sentenced persons.

A plan to implement the two ministries’ cooperative agreement was inked after the talks.

On the same day, the Vietnamese minister was received by General Secretary of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party and President Choummaly Sayasone and Prime Minister Thongsing Thammavong, who spoke highly of the effective collaboration between the two ministries.

Both expressed their hope that the two countries’ security forces will further their partnership to overcome all difficulties and frustrate any plot of hostile forces, contributing to maintaining political and security stability of each country and enhancing the bilateral time-honoured and special friendship.

In the meetings, Minister Quang expressed his thanks to the Lao leaders for helping the two ministries fulfill their tasks, intensify information and experience exchange and work together to combat crimes.

Laos-Vietnam Friendship Association delegation welcomed

Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc on January 15 received a delegation from the Laos-Vietnam Friendship Association (LVFA), which is in Hanoi to attend the 40th founding anniversary of the Vietnam-Laos Friendship Association.

The Deputy PM expressed his delight at the sound development of the two countries’ traditional friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation in all fields, expressing the hope that the two associations will work more closely in 2015 to further the bilateral ties.

He also hailed the results the associations achieved in educating young generations about the two countries’ tradition as well as encouraging border localities to intensify exchanges in numerous forms.

LVFA deputy head Vilayvong Boudakham, who is First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Youth Union, told the host that his delegation had held working sessions with leaders of the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organisations and the Vietnam-Laos Friendship Association to discuss measures for cooperation.

Accordingly, the two sides will hold events commemorating the 125th birthday of the late President Ho Chi Minh and marking the 70th National Day of Vietnam and the 40th National Day of Laos, he added.

VLFA’s conference discusses 2015 friendship activities

Chapters of the Vietnam-Laos Friendship Association (VLFA) in localities nationwide should further promote their activities to enhance mutual understanding between the two countries’ people and accelerate bilateral relations, said VLFA President Vu Trong Kim.

Kim, who is also Vice President and Secretary General of the Vietnam Fatherland Front (VFF) Central Committee, made the suggestion during the 2nd conference of the VLFA Central Committee held in Hanoi on January 15, which reviewed the Association’s interpersonal and friendship activities in 2014 and discussed action plans for 2015.

According to Kim, VLFA organised a series of exchange activities in 2014 to deepen the traditional friendship, solidarity, and comprehensive cooperation between the two nations.

In 2015, the Association will diversify its operation methods while continuing to intensify communication efforts to educate the people of both nations, especially young generations, about Vietnam-Laos special relations.

Localities of both nations will cooperate together to conduct excursions to featured sites across Vietnam, including Thai Nguyen, Tuyen Quang, Hoa Binh, Son La, Binh Thuan and Hoa Binh province, all which are related to Laos’ revolution development and history.

Additionally, VLFA’s chapters will work with their Lao partners to enhance overall cooperation, especially in education, training, economics, culture, science and technology, tourism, and sports, between the two countries.

Trade between Vietnam and Laos reached a value of 1.58 billion USD last year, a 34.5 percent annual increase.

Currently, nearly 8,000 Lao students are pursuing degrees in Vietnam.-Chapters of the Vietnam-Laos Friendship Association (VLFA) in localities nationwide should further promote their activities to enhance mutual understanding between the two countries’ people and accelerate bilateral relations, said VLFA President Vu Trong Kim.

Kim, who is also Vice President and Secretary General of the Vietnam Fatherland Front (VFF) Central Committee, made the suggestion during the 2nd conference of the VLFA Central Committee held in Hanoi on January 15, which reviewed the Association’s interpersonal and friendship activities in 2014 and discussed action plans for 2015.

According to Kim, VLFA organised a series of exchange activities in 2014 to deepen the traditional friendship, solidarity, and comprehensive cooperation between the two nations.

In 2015, the Association will diversify its operation methods while continuing to intensify communication efforts to educate the people of both nations, especially young generations, about Vietnam-Laos special relations.

Localities of both nations will cooperate together to conduct excursions to featured sites across Vietnam, including Thai Nguyen, Tuyen Quang, Hoa Binh, Son La, Binh Thuan and Hoa Binh province, all which are related to Laos’ revolution development and history.

Additionally, VLFA’s chapters will work with their Lao partners to enhance overall cooperation, especially in education, training, economics, culture, science and technology, tourism, and sports, between the two countries.

Trade between Vietnam and Laos reached a value of 1.58 billion USD last year, a 34.5 percent annual increase.

Currently, nearly 8,000 Lao students are pursuing degrees in Vietnam.-

Deputy PM urges stronger efforts for VN-Laos relations

The Vietnam-Laos Friendship Association (VLFA) needs to exert every effort to promote people-to-people exchange, thus bolstering the traditional friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between the two nations, said Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc.

During a meeting celebrating the 40th founding anniversary of VLFA (January 15, 1975-2015) in Hanoi on January 15, the Deputy PM praised efforts made by the association over the past four decades, saying that these have contributed to deepening the bilateral all-round ties.

The Vietnam-Laos relations see an increasing development thanks to joint endeavors made by generations of both sides’ leaders and people, Phuc said, expressing his hope that it will continue to grow in all fields in the future.

He urged the association to increase activities to link Vietnamese and Lao businesses with a view to strengthening bilateral economic collaboration and raising two-way trade.

According to the Vietnamese official, trade between Vietnam and Laos reached 1.58 billion USD last year, a 34.5 percent annual increase. The two nations have set to lift this to 2 billion USD by late this year.

Vietnam has poured over 5 billion USD in Laos , becoming one of the largest investors in the country.

Currently, nearly 8,000 Lao students are studying in Vietnam while Laos is home to over 400 Vietnamese students.

The two Governments and their cooperation subcommittees are working hard to prepare for the 37th meeting of the Intergovernmental Committee scheduled for late this month in Hanoi , Phuc noted.

At the event, VLFA President Vu Trong Kim briefed participants on his association’s operations since it was established, with a wide range of exchange activities to deepen the bilateral ties.

Vilayvong Budakham from the Laos-Vietnam Friendship Association (LVFA) congratulated VLFA on achievements during its 40-year development, stressing that the two Parties, Governments and peoples must make more efforts to further forge their special relationship.

LVFA will collaborate closely with its Vietnamese partner in diversifying forms of operation to educate the two peoples, especially young generations, about the traditional Vietnam-Laos relationship, he said.

On the occasion, Deputy PM Phuc presented the first-class Labour Order to VLFA in recognition of its significant contribution to the bilateral relations.

VNA