HÀ NỘI – The special relations between Vietnamese and Lao Parties and States hold strategic meaning for peace, stability, co-operation and development in each country, the region and the world.

General Secretary of the Communist Party of Việt Nam (CPV) Nguyễn Phú Trọng and General Secretary of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party (LPRP) and President of Laos Bounnhang Vorachith made the statement during their talks in Hà Nội yesterday.

They described the friendship and solidarity year 2017 between Việt Nam and Laos as an important milestone in the two countries’ relations.

In the future, the two countries will face many difficulties in building, safeguarding and reforming the nation. Therefore, it is necessary to strengthen co-ordination in implementing development strategies in their respective societies while improving bilateral co-operation efficiency.

Việt Nam and Laos pledged to closely work to more effectively realise agreements signed between the two countries’ parties and States and the Việt Nam-Laos Joint Statement.

The two sides will spare no efforts to deepen their political ties and increase experience sharing in building parties and a political system.

They will focus on personnel training, promoting the spirit of the friendship solidarity year and raising public awareness of the special relations between Việt Nam and Laos, especially among youngsters.

The Vietnamese and Lao leaders agreed to continue providing mutual support at regional and international forums, especially at the United Nations, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS).

The two countries vowed to co-ordinate with GMS nations and international organisations to sustainably use and manage the water resources of the Mekong River, while strengthening links with Cambodia to implement efficiently the trilateral agreement on Cambodia-Laos-Việt Nam Development Triangle Area.

Regarding the East Sea, Vietnamese and Lao leaders stressed the importance of maintaining peace, stability, security, safety and freedom of navigation and overflight in the sea.

They agreed to settle any disputes via peaceful means and in line with international law, including the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea and the early building of the Code of Conduct in the East Sea.

After talks, the host and guest witnessed the signing of an agreement between the Vietnamese and Lao Governments on the construction of the Lao National Assembly building and the handing over of a certificate on the Laos-Việt Nam Port Joint Stock Company to the Lao side and a collection of books Việt Nam-Laos, Laos-Việt Nam friendship roads.

The Lao leader invited General Secretary Trọng to visit Laos, and the later accepted the invitation with pleasure.

PM hails success of friendship year with Laos

Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc met visiting General Secretary of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party and President of Laos Bounnhang Vorachith in Hà Nội yesterday.

PM Phúc expressed joy at the success of the Việt Nam-Laos Friendship Year 2017, saying that the Governments of both countries have guided their ministries, sectors, localities and businesses in implementing Việt Nam-Laos joint statements and agreements reached by their leaders, as also co-operative pacts, programmes and plans, contributing to political stability, socio-economic development and international integration of each country.

Bounnhang Vorachith commended the two governments for their close coordination and effective work in assessing bilateral cooperation and addressing obstacles in the implementation of key co-operative projects as well as outstanding problems in bilateral ties.

He urged the two governments to continue providing strong leadership in implementing bilateral agreements so as to foster comprehensive co-operation between the two countries.

In particular, the Lao leader requested that Việt Nam promote cooperation with Laos in agriculture, and expressed thanks to Việt Nam for allowing his land-locked country to use the Vũng Áng Port (in the central coastal province of Hà Tĩnh) for economic development.

Phúc affirmed that the Vietnamese Government would actively carry out bilateral agreements and take effective measures to remove obstacles in bilateral economic cooperation.

He took the occasion to thank the Lao Party and State for their sympathy and timely support for flood and storm victims in central Việt Nam.

The Lao leader is paying an official friedly visit to Việt Nam from Tuesday to Thursday, the second of its kind during his tenure (2016-21). It is made at the invitation of Party General Secretary Nguyễn Phú Trọng and President Trần Đại Quang. — VNS