Hanoi (VNA) – The Party, State and People’sPublic Security forces of Vietnam have consistently set solidarity andcomprehensive cooperation with Laos as an extremely important factor to ensurethe leadership of the two Parties and States for the well-being of the twopeoples, affirmed President Tran Dai Quang.

During a reception in Hanoi on March 16 for Secretary ofthe Lao People’s Revolutionary Party Central Committee and Minister of PublicSecurity Somkeo Silavong, Quang hailed his visit to attend a conference reviewingthe outcomes of cooperation between the Vietnamese and Lao ministries of publicsecurity last year and sign a collaboration plan for 2017.

He congratulated Minister Silavong on being awarded withan honorary doctorate degree by the Vietnam People’s Police Academy in honourof his contributions to personnel training of the two countries’ publicsecurity forces.

Discussing bilateral ties, the President wished that thetwo public security forces would continue their close and practicalcoordination to firmly safeguard national security, social safety and order ineach country.

As Vietnam and Laos will celebrate the 55th anniversary of the bilateral diplomatic ties (September 5) and the 40th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation (July18), the two forces need to work closely together to ensure the absolute safetyof events and anniversary celebrations, contributing to deepening bilateralfriendship and special solidarity, he stated.

Speaking highly of the outcomes of talks between the twoministries, the host suggested facilitating visits by their leaders and localpublic security officers to share experience and promptly deal with contingenciesinvolving security and order in each nation.

The leader required them to effectively fightcross-border drug trafficking, economic crimes and hunt for local law violatorshiding in the other country.

On the occasion, he wished that the Lao people wouldscore greater successes in the national construction and development.

Silavong, for his part, thanked the Vietnamese State andgovernment for helping Laos successfully organise important political events in2016 year when Laos assumed the role of ASEAN Chair.

Silavong said during talks with the Vietnamese Ministryof Public Security, both sides have agreed to continue initiatives to increasethe visit exchange of the two ministries’ leaders to share experience inmaintaining social safety and order, ensuring national security, preventingcrimes and non-traditional security issues.

In case of contingencies, both sides will partner to promptlydeal with them, prevent hostile forces from distorting, sabotaging and hurtingthe bilateral special solidarity and traditional friendship.

The two sides will continue mutual consultancy andsupport at regional and global forums in the fight against crimes and othernon-traditional security issues, he said.-VNA