Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc chairs a meeting with ministries and sectors on Tuesday to review Việt Nam-Laos co-operation. —VNA/VNS Photo Thống Nhất

HÀ NỘI — Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc chaired a meeting with ministries and sectors on Tuesday to review Việt Nam-Laos co-operation and discuss preparations for the 43rd meeting of the Việt Nam-Laos Inter-governmental Committee slated for early December in Hà Nội.

PM Phúc underlined the significance of the 43rd meeting as the two countries are preparing for their national party congresses and building socio-economic development strategies.

He reiterated the consistent policy of giving top priority to the special relationship with Laos and told ministries and sectors to implement agreements between the two countries, including those reached during the recent visits to Việt Nam by the Lao Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith.

The Government leader also urged ministries and sectors to define the direction for bilateral co-operation in the next period of time and create a new driver for bilateral relations.

It was reported at the meeting that ministries, sectors and localities of Việt Nam and Laos have made efforts to continue implementing plans on bilateral co-operation while supporting each other in fighting the COVID-19 pandemic and maintaining exchanges in trade, investment, education-training and other fields.

Ministries and sectors reported to the PM their planned directions for co-operation with Laos in their respective fields, with stress on settling outstanding problems, enhancing economic links and promoting joint work in culture, education, people-to-people exchange, especially educating young generations in the valuable Việt Nam-Laos ties.

PM Phúc instructed them to make their best efforts to ensure success for the 43rd meeting of the Việt Nam-Laos Inter-governmental Committee, particularly completing important documents on co-operation for signing on the occasion. Those documents include a strategy for Việt Nam-Laos economic, cultural, educational, scientific and technological co-operation for 2021-2030, and an agreement on bilateral co-operation for 2021-2025.

He said those documents will show the direction for the strong development of the great friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive co-operation between Việt Nam and Laos in the interest of people of the two countries as well as for peace, co-operation and development in the region and the world. — VNS