Vientiane (VNA) – Vietnamese Minister of Public Security Gen. To Lam paidcourtesy calls to General Secretary of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party andPresident of Laos Thongloun Sisoulith, and Prime Minister of the country SonexaySiphandone in Vientiane on September 29.

The meetingswere part of an official visit to Laos by a high-ranking delegation of theVietnamese Ministry of Public Security (MPS). The delegation also attended theinauguration ceremony of the Academy of Politics of the LaoPeople's Public Security, a gift from the Vietnamese Government and MPSto the Lao MPS.

Lam thanked the Lao leadersfor creating conditions for the Vietnamese MPS and its Laos counterpart tocooperate closely and effectively in fighting crimes and safeguarding securityand order in each country.

He informed his hostsabout the two ministries’ cooperation results and the outcomes of their talksheld earlier the same day.

The Vietnamese official notedthe two ministries have affirmed that security - defence cooperation remainsone of the three pillars of the countries’ relations, and that they will staydetermined and persistent to guarantee peace, stability and development alongthe Vietnam - Laos border.

The two sides also statedthat one country’s security is also the other’s. Vietnam and Laos will notallow hostile, opposition, and reactionary forces to take advantage of thiscountry’s territory to sabotage the other or drive a wedge into bilateralrelations. They will also work closely in preventing and fighting “colourrevolution”, “peace evolution”, and transnational crimes, according to Lam.

Both General Secretary andPresident Thongloun Sisoulith and PM SonexaySiphandone spoke highly of the fruitful cooperation results between the twoministries, especially the coordination in building the Academyof Politics of the Lao People's Public Security.

The General Secretary andPresident of Laos expressed his hope that the twocountries’ public security forces will keep promoting comprehensive cooperationin the time ahead to meet requirements and fulfil tasks in the new context forthe sake of the two peoples, regional and global peace, stability anddevelopment, as well as the special friendship and comprehensive cooperationbetween Vietnam and Laos.

Meanwhile, PM Siphandone asked the two forces to furtherenhance cooperation in combating transnational crimes, drug crimes, humantrafficking, and hi-tech crimes. He also told them to coordinate closely to ensureabsolute security and safety in 2024, when Laos will hold the chairmanship ofthe Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

Earlier on September 29, the Vietnamese MPS delegationheld talks with its Lao counterpart, led by Deputy PM and Minister Gen. VilayLakhamphong.

The twosides highly valued the implementation results of the 2023 cooperation plan,especially in guaranteeing national security and fighting transnational anddrug crimes. They emphasised that amid complex and unpredictable developmentsin the region and the world, Vietnam and Laos should continue upholding theirgreat and traditional friendship to surmount difficulties and develop furtherfor regional peace and security, along with the two peoples’ prosperity andhappiness.

Concluding the talks, the Vietnamese minister and theLao Deputy PM and Minister of Public Security signed the cooperation plan for2024./.