HÀ NỘI — Laos’ Minister of Public Security was awarded an honorary doctorate on Thursday in Hà Nội by the Việt Nam People’s Police Academy for his contributions to training the two countries’ public security forces.

At a reception for Minister Somkeo Silavong, who is also Secretary of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party Central Committee, President Trần Đại Quang congratulated his guest.

The President expressed his hope for the two public security forces to continue their close and practical co-ordination to firmly safeguard national security and social safety and order in each country. 
As Việt Nam and Laos celebrate the 55th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic ties (September 5) and the 40th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Friendship and Co-operation (July 18), the two forces need to work closely to ensure the absolute safety of events and celebrations, contributing to deepening bilateral friendship and special solidarity, he said. 
Speaking highly of the outcome of talks between the two ministries, the host suggested facilitating top-level visits by national and public security officers in order to share experience and promptly deal with contingencies involving security and order in each nation. 
The leader urged both sides to fight cross-border drug trafficking and economic crimes and to hunt for fugitives hiding in each other’s country. 
Silavong, for his part, thanked the Vietnamese State and Government for helping Laos successfully organise important political events in 2016, when Laos assumed the ASEAN chairmanship. 
Silavong said that during talks with the Vietnamese Ministry of Public Security, both sides agreed to increase visits in order to share experience in maintaining social safety and order, ensuring national security, and preventing crimes and non-traditional security threats. 
In case of contingencies, both sides will partner to promptly deal with them, prevent hostile forces from distorting, sabotaging the special solidarity and traditional friendship. 
The two sides will continue mutual consultancy and support at regional and global forums in the fight against crimes and other non-traditional security threats, he said. — VNS