Prime Minister Lê Minh Hưng and his Lao counterpart Saleumxay Kommasith hold a meeting in Vientiane on Wednesday as part of the Vietnamese Government leader's official visit to Laos from October 8 to 10. — VNA/VNS Photo Dương Giang

VIENTIANE — Prime Minister Lê Minh Hưng on Thursday announced that Việt Nam will build and donate two schools to the two Lao provinces of Houaphanh and Champasak.

The Vietnamese government leader made the announcement during a meeting with his Lao counterpart Saleumxay Kommasith in Vientiane, as he began his official visit to the neighbouring country from October 8 to 10.

The two schools, valued at US$2 million, represent Việt Nam’s support and contribution to education, training, and human resource development in Laos, as part of broader efforts to boost bilateral cooperation between the two countries.

PM Hưng also stressed that Việt Nam would continue to support Laos in training officials, experts and high-quality human resources.

The two Prime Ministers expressed satisfaction with the positive and comprehensive development of bilateral relations, stressing that the special Việt Nam-Laos relationship remains the highest priority in each country's foreign policy.

They agreed to continue leveraging the core role of their trusting political relationship, maintaining regular high-level and other-level visits and contacts, and effectively coordinating the implementation of high-level agreements, cooperation plans and programmes between the two Governments and their ministries and sectors.

Both sides agreed that defence and security cooperation remains a pillar of their relationship, and agreed to continue close coordination in combating transnational crime, drug trafficking, human trafficking, smuggling and high-tech crime.

Lao Prime Minister Saleumxay Kommasith and Vietnamese counterpart Lê Minh Hưng had talks in Vientiane on October 8. — VNA/VNS Photo Dương Giang

They also agreed to increase cooperation in border management and in new areas such as cybersecurity.

In terms of economic development, the two sides agreed to strive for bilateral trade turnover of US$5 billion and work towards $10 billion annually in the near future. They agreed to develop roadmaps, specific priority investment lists, and resolve difficulties to accelerate the implementation of major investment projects to realise these goals.

The two sides agreed to coordinate closely to prepare for the 'Việt Nam-Laos Year of Solidarity, Friendship, and Connectivity 2027', which commemorates the 65th anniversary of the establishment of their diplomatic relations (September 5, 1962) and the 50th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation (July 18, 1977).

The two PMs also discussed measures to strengthen cooperation in other sectors such as science and technology, transport, energy, and mining.

They agreed to continue close coordination and mutual support within ASEAN, the United Nations, Mekong sub-regional mechanisms and other multilateral frameworks of which both countries are members.

PM Hưng respectfully invited his counterpart, Saleumxay, to attend two important events to be held in Việt Nam next month: the Ayeyawady-Chao Phraya-Mekong Economic Cooperation Strategy (ACMECS) Summit and the Cambodia-Laos-Myanmar-Việt Nam (CLMV) Cooperation Summit.

After the discussion, the two PMs witnessed the exchange of 11 cooperation documents covering security, justice, finance, energy, education and training, ethnic and religious affairs, and local-level cooperation.

They also attended the handover ceremony for the National Data and Citizen Identity Center, developed by Việt Nam’s Ministry of Public Security for Laos, and the launch ceremony for the Laos-Việt Nam Friendship University. — VNS