At the talks between Vietnamese President Nguyen Xuan Phuc and Lao Party General Secretary and President Thongloun Sisoulith (Photo: VNA) The two sides informed each other about the situation ofeach Party and country, and discussed orientations and measures to continue developingthe Vietnam-Laos great friendship, special solidarity and comprehensivecooperation in a deep, effective and practical manner, and exchanged views onregional and international issues of mutual concern.
The Lao leader stressed that President Phuc’s selection ofLaos as the first country to visit in his new position showed that the Vietnamese Party and State, and President Phuc personally have attachedspecial importance to preserving, protecting and nurturing the great friendship, special solidarityand comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and Laos.
The two leaders affirmed that the Parties, States and people of the two nations have alwaysgiven each other valuable and wholehearted support and assistance in the paststruggle for national liberation and reunification and the current cause of nationprotection and development.
They expressed their delight at the fruitful development of thebilateral collaboration in recent years, discussed ways to support each otherin dealing with difficulties caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, and agreed tojointly promote cooperation in all fields.
They agreed to maintain the effectiveimplementation of high-level agreements and the results achieved at the 43rd meetingof the Vietnam-Laos Intergovernmental Committee as well as the Agreement on Bilateral Cooperationfor the 2021-2025 period and the Vietnam-Laos Cooperation Strategy for the2021-2030 period, along with the outcomes achieved during the official friendlyvisit to Vietnam by the Lao leader in late June and this official friendlyvisit to Laos by President Phuc.
Both sides highlighted the need to deepen bilateralpolitical cooperation; coordinate closely in strategic issues related tosecurity and development of each country; maintain high-level visits; and increase the exchange of information and experience in Party and political systembuilding, socio-economic development, macroeconomic stability and internationalintegration.
They agreed to designate 2022 as the “Year of Vietnam-Laos, Laos-Vietnam Friendship and Solidarity”to celebrate the 60th founding anniversary of diplomatic ties and 45 yearsof the signing of the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation between the two countries.
The two leaders also affirmed to maintain cooperation in defence and security to effectively deal with traditional and non-traditional security challenges.
The two leaders consented agreed to coordinate closely at international andregional forums, continue to promote the central role of ASEAN and ASEAN-ledmechanisms, strengthen coordination with Cambodia to implement the agreementbetween the three Prime Ministers on the Cambodia - Laos - Vietnam DevelopmentTriangle and implement the Master Plan on connecting the three economies by2030, and closely coordinate in the Mekong sub-regional cooperation mechanisms.The two sides agreed to continue intensifying cooperation with each other andwith relevant countries and international organisations for the sustainable andeffective management and use of the Mekong River’s water sources.
Both host and guest emphasised the importance of maintaining peace, stability,security, safety and freedom of navigation and aviation in the East Sea; settlingdisputes through peaceful measures on the basis of international law, including the1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS); workingwith relevant parties to promote the full and effective implementation of theDeclaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC) and soon achieve aneffective and practical Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC) in accordancewith international law.
After the talks, the two leaders witnessed the signing of 14 cooperation documents between the two countries’ ministries, sectors and enterprises. (Photo: VNA) On this occasion, Vietnam also presented a vocationaltraining school in Khammuane province worth 5 million USD as a gift to Laos./.
VNA
