At the launch of the Vietnam-Laos, Laos-Vietnam Friendship Year 2022. VNA/VNS Photo

HÀ NỘI — The upcoming official visit to Laos by Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính will create momentum for Việt Nam and its neighbour to strengthen their relations, a diplomat has said.

PM Chính will pay an official visit to Laos and co-chair the 45th meeting of the Việt Nam-Laos Inter-governmental Committee from January 11-12.

The visit will be made at the invitation of Lao PM Sonexay Siphandone, according to an announcement from the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

According to Vietnamese Ambassador to Laos Nguyễn Bá Hùng in an interview with the Vietnam News Agency, the visit aims to materialise foreign policies adopted at the 13th National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV), focusing on government cooperation.

This is the first official visit to Laos by Chính in his capacity as Prime Minister of Việt Nam, also the first visit to Laos by a foreign high-ranking leader in 2023, he stressed.

It demonstrates the importance and the highest priority the Vietnamese Party and State give to consolidating and enhancing the great friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between the two countries.

During the visit, PM Chính and his Lao counterpart are expected to discuss national and international issues of mutual concern, and seek solutions to challenges in the new situation, thus contributing to peace, security, stability and development in the region and the world at large.

They will discuss measures, including new, breakthrough ones, to consolidate the relations, giving a boost to the comprehensive cooperation this year.

Regarding the 45th meeting of the Việt Nam-Laos Inter-governmental Committee, to be co-chaired by the PMs, Hùng said the two sides would look into major orientations, policies and measures to foster the collaboration in a more practical and effective manner.

They were expected to sign many important documents, he said, adding that the two PMs were also scheduled to wrap up the Việt Nam-Laos Friendship and Solidarity Year 2022.

The ambassador stressed that thanks to the instructions of the two countries’ Party and State leaders, and efforts by their ministries, agencies, businesses and people, the relationship had been deepened, bringing great, practical interests to both nations.

Apart from politics, national defence and security and external affairs, the leaders had worked to enhance bilateral economic ties by exchanging experience in policy making, facilitating the operations of businesses and connecting the two economies, especially in transport infrastructure. 

Hung held that Việt Nam and Laos had substantial opportunities to step up international integration, bilateral collaboration as well as cooperation with other countries, for peace, security, stability and development.

The diplomat expressed his belief that with the strong determination and great efforts of the two countries’ Parties, Governments and people, the relationship would be preserved and consolidated forever. VNS