President Nguyễn Xuân Phúc meet with Lao Prime Minister Phankham Viphavanh in Vientiane on Monday. VNA Photo Thống Nhất

VIENTIANE – President Nguyễn Xuân Phúc on Monday met with Lao Prime Minister Phankham Viphavanh, and visited and held separate meetings with former Party and State leaders of Laos.

They include Khamtai Siphandone, former President of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party (LPRP) and former President of Laos, and former Party General Secretaries and former Presidents Choummaly Sayasone, and Bounnhang Vorachith.

On the same day, President Phúc received Sinlavong Khutphaythoun, President of the Lao Front for National Construction Central Committee, and Khambay Damlath, President of the Laos – Vietnam Friendship Association Central Committee.

At these meetings, the current and former leaders of Laos stressed that President Phúc's selection of Laos for his first overseas visit in his new position showed that the Vietnamese Party and State, and the President himself have attached special importance to preserving, protecting and nurturing the great friendship, special solidarity, and comprehensive cooperation between the two nations.

President Phúc and the current and former leaders of Laos highly evaluated the measures having been applied by each other's country to cope with the COVID-19 pandemic. They expressed their delight at timely mutual support between the two nations amid the pandemic.

Agreeing on orientations for collaboration in the time to come, they highlighted the need to well coordinate with each other in the implementation of high-level agreements, the Agreement on Bilateral Cooperation for 2021-2025, and the Vietnam-Laos Cooperation Strategy for 2021-2030.

They agreed to support the Vietnamese and Lao Governments in speeding up the implementation of important joint projects such as Vũng Áng ports, Hà Nội-Vientiane expressway, Vientiane-Vũng Áng railway, Laos-Việt Nam friendship park in Vientiane, Nongkhang airport, and hospitals in Laos’ Houaphan and Xiangkhouang provinces.

They agreed to strengthen Việt Nam – Laos collaboration at multilateral forums, particularly at the UN, ASEAN, and sub-regional cooperation mechanisms, to contribute to peace, stability, and development in the region and in the world.

In the evening, General Secretary of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party Central Committee and President of Laos Thongloun Sisoulith and his spouse hosted a banquet in honour of President Nguyễn Xuân Phúc, his wife and the Vietnamese delegation.

Deputy PM discusses bilateral cooperation areas

Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister Lê Văn Thành during his talks with Lao Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Planning and Investment Sonexay Siphandone on the same day suggested Việt Nam and Laos boost cooperation in institution-policy, infrastructure and human resources in the time ahead.

Thanh said many Vietnamese firms wanted to invest in the neighbouring country, and called on Laos to further streamline its procedures and offer more incentives to investors.

The two countries have ample room for trade and investment cooperation, he said, suggesting the establishment of a special working group in charge of drawing up specific cooperation programmes, and removing roadblocks for joint projects.

Sonexay Siphandone said the two sides should step up border trade and collaboration in electricity and mining, intensify infrastructure connectivity, and upgrade border gates to facilitate trade and transportation of goods.

Vietnamese fruits are favoured in Laos, he said, noting the two countries’ ministries and agencies would work on mechanisms and policies on goods production and exchange, and increase online exchanges amid COVID-19.

The Deputy PMs agreed to designate 2022 as the Year of Việt Nam-Laos, Laos-Việt Nam Friendship and Solidarity to mark the 60th founding anniversary of bilateral diplomatic ties and 45 years of the signing of the Việt Nam-Lao Treaty of Amity and Cooperation.

Vietnamese, Lao Fronts boost cooperation

President of the Vietnam Fatherland Front (VFF) Central Committee Đỗ Văn Chiến also met with his Lao counterpart Sinlavong Khoutphaythoune in Vientiane on Monday.

Chiến and Sinlavong affirmed that the relationship between the VFF and the Lao Front for National Construction (LFNC) had developed fruitfully over the past time, with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the Cambodian, Lao and Vietnamese Front organisations on the cooperation programme for the 2020-2023 period.

The two sides will hold an online conference in mid-September to exchange experience in Front work and discuss specific cooperation contents for the coming years.

The VFF Central Committee would propose a grand programme to celebrate the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and Laos and the 45th anniversary of the signing of the Vietnam-Laos Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation in 2022 under the direction of President Nguyễn Xuân Phúc, Chiến added.

Vietnamese, Lao provinces seek to deepen ties

Chairman of the People's Committee of the Vietnamese northern province of Bắc Giang Lê Ánh Dương meanwhile had a meeting with Khamlieng Outthakaison, Secretary of the provincial Party Committee and Governor of Xaysomboun province of Laos.

Earlier the same day, the two provinces signed a cooperation agreement for 2021 – 2025.

At the meeting, the Vietnamese and Lao officials underscored that their provinces boast favourable geographical locations and tremendous potential for cooperation, especially in farming and animal husbandry.

The two sides also exchanged experience in COVID-19 prevention and control. Bac Giang province was once a pandemic hotspot of Vietnam that had successfully controlled the pandemic. VNA/VNS