Việt Nam and Laos have issued a joint-statement wherein both sides agree to comprehensively strengthen bilateral relations in all areas across all levels.— VNA/VNS Photo Trí Dũng

VIENTIANE — Việt Nam and Laos have issued a joint-statement wherein both sides agree to comprehensively strengthen bilateral relations in all areas across all levels.

The statement was issued during Party General Secretary Nguyễn Phú Trọng’s three-day (November 24-26) visit to Laos. The visit, which concludes today, was made at the invitation of Lao Party General Secretary and President Bounnhang Volachith. 

The statement said both sides agree to bolster political ties by maintaining regular meetings and exchanges between the two Parties and countries’ leaders, improve the efficiency of bilateral co-operation mechanisms, and extend liaison and mutual support between Party commissions, ministries, National Assembly committees, trade unions, mass organisations and localities. 

The two sides also agreed to improve the efficiency of collaboration in economy, culture, education and science-technology. They will implement effectively the high-level agreements between the two Governments as also between the two countries’ ministries and localities, with priority given to economic connectivity among institutions, transport infrastructure, energy, tourism and the effective use of seaports. 

Both countries will also devise specific measures to ensure the progress and quality of Việt Nam’s investment projects in Laos, increase two-way trade, and effectively manage and use Việt Nam’s financial assistance to Laos. 

The two sides vowed all possible support to Vietnamese and Lao nationals living in either country in line with the countries’ laws and international practices. 

They will improve affiliations in national defence and security to maintain political stability as well as social safety and order.

The joint statement said the two countries will continue to effectively implement the Government-level agreements on the settling uncontrolled migration and unregistered marriages in border areas, work closely in the fight against crime, smuggling and drug trafficking, and push ahead with joint efforts to search for and repatriate remains of Vietnamese volunteer soldiers and experts who died in Laos during the war. 

They pledged to offer mutual support at regional and global forums, especially at the United Nations, ASEAN and sub-regional cooperation mechanisms, to contribute to a global environment of peace, stability, cooperation and development in Southeast Asia and the world. 

The two leaders expressed their commitment to foster close co-ordination with riparian nations and relevant international organisations towards sustainable and effective use and management of Mekong River waters. 

They underscored the importance of maintaining peace, stability, security and safety in the East Sea, agreeing to advocate for the settlement of the East Sea dispute through peaceful means on the basis of international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS 1982). They will also join other stakeholders in fully and effectively implementing the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC), and work for early formulation of a Code of Conduct in the East Sea for peace, security, stability, cooperation and development in the region and the world. 

The statement said both sides highly valued the outcomes and significance of the Vietnamese Party General Secretary’s visit. It has contributed to deepening the traditional friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive co-operation between Việt Nam and Laos, meeting the aspirations of both peoples, it added. — VNS