Hanoi (VNA) – The 41st session of theVietnam-Laos inter-governmental committee, which took place in Hanoi on January6, would create a new momentum for bilateral cooperation, according to thePrime Ministers of Vietnam and Laos who co-chaired the session.

Prime Minister NguyenXuan Phuc and his Lao counterpart Thongloun Sisoulith also co-chaired a pressconference to publicise the outcomes of the session.

During his stay in Hanoi on January 5 and 6, theLao PM met with Party General Secretary and President Nguyen Phu Trong andNational Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan.

During all the meetings, the two sides reached ahigh consensus on orientations of bilateral cooperation in 2019 with a focus onthe key pillars of politics, external affairs, defence, and security.

They concurred to increase experience sharing inbuilding policies on stabilizing the macro economy and promoting sustainabledevelopment, and enhancing connectivity and supplementation between the twoeconomies, especially in transport and energy.

Besides, the two nations will coordinate toimprove business and investment environment, and transport infrastructureconnectivity, while creating more favourable conditions for businesses andstriving to expand two-way trade by at least 10 percent this year.

Vietnam and Laos will also continue to promotecooperation in education-training and human resources development.

The two countries’ localities will push aheadwith partnerships in the fields of culture, science, social affairs,information and communications, sports, health care, and internal and judicial matters.

The two sides agreed to strengthen coordinationand mutual support at regional and international forums and join hands to furtherdeepen the cooperation and connectivity of the ASEAN Community as well aspromote the bloc’s solidarity, central role, and common voice in regionalstrategic issues, including the East Sea matter.

They were unanimous in making effective andsustainable use of water resources in the Mekong River.

After the committee’s meeting, the two PMswitnessed the signing of six cooperation agreements, including an agreement oncooperation plan between Vietnamese and Lao governments in 2019; the minutes ofthe 41st meeting of the Vietnam-Laos inter-governmental committee; and anagreement on Vietnam’s provision of 300 tonnes of rice seeds for Laos.

Vietnam’s Ministry of Education and Training andLaos’ Ministry of Education and Sports inked an agreement on educationcooperation plan in 2019.

The two countries alsoinked a minutes to transfer the radio broadcasting project to Laos’ Savanakhetprovince; and another to transfer the Vietnamese-language department project atLao universities of Suphanouvong and Champasak, the Lao National University’sdormitory for international students, and the second-phase of the Laos-VietnamFriendship High School.-VNA