The Vietnam-Laos friendship and comprehensive cooperation should be further promoted to ensure the two countries’ sustainable development in the context of difficulties in the world’s situation and the process of the socialist construction of the two sides.
The Vietnam-Laos friendship and comprehensive cooperation should be further promoted to ensure the two countries’ sustainable development in the context of difficulties in the world’s situation and the process of the socialist construction of the two sides.
Lao Prime Minister Thongsing Thammavong made this remark at a meeting with visiting Vietnamese Politburo member and permanent member of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee (CPVCC) Secretariat, Le Hong Anh.
He is leading a high-ranking CPV and State delegation in an official visit to Laos from July 17 to attend the activities marking the 35th anniversary of the signing of the bilateral Friendship and Cooperation Treaty and the 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties between the two countries.
Mr Thammavong said he hopes the delegation’s visit will make an important contribution to the two countries’ special friendship, adding that these activities will help the two peoples, especially young generations understand deeply about the special relation initialed and nurtured by President Ho Chi Minh and President Kaysone Phomvihane.
He also stressed that the Lao Government will guide its ministries, departments and localities to implement effectively agreements between the two parties and states.
For his part, Mr Hong Anh congratulated Laos on its great achievements in all fields that the country gained after one year of implementation of the ninth Congress’s Resolution of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party (LPRP) and the seventh five-year socio-economic development plan, saying that the country will obtain new and greater success in its renovation cause under the leadership of the LPRP and the guidelines of the Lao Government.
Mr Anh re-affirmed that Vietnam always attaches great importance to Laos and will do its utmost to work together with the neighbouring country to maintain and promote the traditional friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between the two parties, states and peoples to a new height.
The two sides were unanimous in the continuous development of the Vietnam-Laos relations. Cooperation in economics, defence-security, culture, education, and science and technology has attained positive results. Especially, the two governments have coordinated closely to implement signed agreements.
On the same day, the Vietnamese delegation participated in the opening ceremony of the Vietnamese Cultural Week in Laos and an exhibition of photos, artifacts and documents on the two countries’ special relations.
**** At the talks in Hanoi on July 17, Vice State President Nguyen Thi Doan and her Lao counterpart Bounnhang Vorachith expressed their determination to further consolidate and strengthen traditional friendship, solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between the two neighboring countries.
The two sides agreed to continue increasing high-ranking visits and exchanges, promoting cooperation at the State, local and business levels, raising public awareness of the history of special ties and the Vietnam – Laos alliance in the period from 1930 to 2007, as well as jointly holding activities to mark the Vietnam- Laos Solidarity and Friendship Year 2012.
Bilateral economic ties have deepened with Vietnam becoming the second largest investor in Laos with a total capital of US$3.57 billion.
The two leaders pledged to create favourable conditions to step up progress and quality of projects in trade, investment, transport, agriculture, hydropower and mining, towards bringing two-way trade to US$2 billion by 2015.
The two nations will also accelerate cooperation in education, healthcare, agriculture and rural development, infrastructure, tourism, culture, and posts and telecommunication.
Mrs Doan proposed that the two sides promote cooperation in many fields, including scientific research and education to develop human resources for socio-economic development in each country.
While discussing regional and global issues of mutual concern in recent times, both Vietnamese and Laos leaders also noted with pleasure bilateral cooperation in external affairs, sharing information and consulting each side’s viewpoint at the United Nations forums, the ASEAN and ASEAN Inter Parliamentary Meeting, among others.
Vietnam will continue assisting Laos in holding major meetings this year like the seventh Asia-Europe Parliamentary Partnership (ASEP 7) Meeting and the ninth Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM 9) Summit.
