Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Bùi Thanh Sơn holds phone talks with his Lao counterpart Saleumxay Kommasith on Tuesday. VNA/VNS Photo

HÀ NỘI — The new Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Bùi Thanh Sơn has confirmed that he will continue to cooperate closely with his Lao counterpart.

Deputy PM Sơn on Tuesday held phone talks with his counterpart Lao Deputy PM and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Saleumxay Kommasith.

The two sides vowed to coordinate effectively to implement the results of agreements and high-level visits, especially the State visit to Laos by President Tô Lâm in July 2024.

Saleumxay Kommasith warmly congratulated Sơn on the occasion of the 79th anniversary of the National Day of the Socialist Republic of Việt Nam and the 79th anniversary of the establishment of the Vietnamese diplomatic sector.

The Lao diplomat also congratulated Sơn on being approved by the Vietnamese National Assembly to hold the position of Deputy PM.

Saleumxay Kommasith believed that with his capacity and extensive experience, Deputy PM and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sơn will continue to contribute to the successful implementation of foreign affairs tasks assigned by the Party and State of Việt Nam.

Sơn attributed the glorious achievements that Việt Nam has made over the past 79 years to the companionship, sincere and wholehearted support of Laos.

He affirmed that he would continue to cooperate closely with his Lao counterpart to further promoting the special relationship between Việt Nam and Laos in as well as the two ministries.

The two leaders expressed their joy at the developing, close and entrusted bilateral relationship across various areas.

Political relations continue to play a core role in the overall orientation of the bilateral relationship. Defence and security cooperation continues to be strengthened.

The two countries continue to support each other to maintain political stability, ensure defence and security, and social order and safety in each country.

The Việt Nam-Laos’ total import-export turnover in the first seven months of 2024 reached US$1.1 billion, an increase of 16.7 percent over the same period in 2023.

Cooperation in other areas such as education - training, health, culture and people-to-people exchange - has also achieved positive results.

The two sides vowed to coordinate effectively to implement the results of agreements and high-level visits and the 46th meeting of the Việt Nam - Laos Intergovernmental Committee.

Discussing cooperation at regional and international forums, the two Deputy PMs pledged to intensify experience sharing, information exchange and close coordination at multilateral forums, especially at the United Nations, ASEAN and Mekong sub-regional cooperation mechanisms.

Deputy PM, foreign minister Sơn affirmed that Việt Nam will continue to support and assist Laos in successfully assuming its international responsibilities, especially the role of ASEAN/AIPA Chair in 2024. — VNS