Hanoi (VNA) – Prime Minister Pham MinhChinh suggested Vietnam and Laos further coordinate to seek solutions to bringeconomic cooperation on par with their special political ties, while receiving LaoVice President Bounthong Chitmany in Hanoi on July 18.

To deepen and advance cooperation, the two countriesshould maintain all-level delegation exchanges and effectively implement theagreement reached at the 44th meeting of the Vietnam-Laosinter-governmental committee, he said.

At the same time, they should cooperate to buildtheir economies of independence, self-reliance, and intensive and extensiveinternational integration, the PM continued, calling for efforts to quicklyremove obstacles to businesses, create a stable and transparent legal corridorand a favourable business environment to raise investor confidence.

The two sides can expand collaboration in other importantspheres like national defence and security, border, education-training,science-technology, culture, sports, tourism, cooperation between localitiesand people-to-people exchange, he said.

The leader also highlighted Vietnam-Laos closecooperation and mutual support at international and regional forums, saying thetwo countries need to enhance their support to maintain their independence andself-reliance, while significantly contributing to maintaining the Associationof Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)’s solidarity and centrality.

Both host and guest rejoiced at positive developmentsof the bilateral relationship in all fields, and shared the view that the regularmeetings by high-ranking leaders have helped to foster the relationship andhandle obstacles to the implementation of cooperation tasks.

They said two-way trade in the first half of thisyear reached 824 million USD, up 20.6% year-on-year. Vietnam’s investment inthe neighbouring country was valued at 64.5 million USD in the first fivemonths, raising its total investment capital to around 2.6 billion USD.

The two sides agreed to urge their agencies and localitiesto put into place reached agreements, and coordinate in accelerating theimplementation of major cooperation projects to celebrate the Vietnam-Laos Solidarityand Friendship Year 2022.

Bounthong Chitmany, who is also permanent member of the Secretariat of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party, stressed that the celebration ofthe 60th anniversary of the bilateral diplomatic ties and 45 yearsof the signing of the Vietnam-Laos Treaty of Amity and Cooperation have helpedthe international community understand more about the “unique” specialrelationship between the two nations.

On this occasion, PM Chinh asked the Lao Vice Presidentto convey his wishes and regards to PM Phankham Viphavanh and other Party andState leaders of Laos./.