Relevant Vietnamese agencies will spare no effort to support Laos to organise the 9 th Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM-9) scheduled for Vientiane on Nov. 5-6 this year.
Relevant Vietnamese agencies will spare no effort to support Laos to organise the 9 th Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM-9) scheduled for Vientiane on Nov. 5-6 this year.
This commitment was made by Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh at a meeting with Lao Deputy Foreign Minister Bounket Sansomsak, in Hanoi on Feb. 20.
FM Minh expressed his pleasure at the strong development in the Vietnam-Laos special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation, especially the success of the two countries’ visits by senior leaders after the Party congresses and National Assembly elections in each country.
He highlighted the significance of the Vietnam-Laos friendship and solidarity year in 2012 launched by President Truong Tan Sang and Lao Party General Secretary and State President Choummaly Sayasone.
The two sides should continue working closely both in bilateral cooperation and at multilateral forums, Minh said.
Deputy Foreign Minister Bounket Sansomsak, who is also head of the ASEM senior official meeting (SOM) delegation of Laos, highly valued Vietnam’s close and effective cooperation and thanked the neighbour for sharing experience in hosting ASEM and international activities.
During his stay in Vietnam from Feb. 19-21, Deputy Foreign Minister Bounkot Sangsomsak met with leaders of the Foreign Ministry and the head of ASEM SOM Vietnam.
The Vietnam visit by the Lao Deputy Foreign Minister takes place while ASEM members are preparing a senior officials’ meeting in Denmark early next month to discuss preparations for ASEM-9, one of largest international conferences to be hosted by Laos .
After 15 years of development, ASEM is an important inter-regional forum with 48 members, representing 60 percent of the world’s population and contributing to 55 percent of the global GDP.
(Source: VNA)
