Vientiane (VNA) – The foreign ministries of Vietnam and Laos held their second politicalconsultation in the Lao capital city of Vientiane on May 31. 

Vietnamese Deputy Foreign Minister Dang Dinh Quyand his Lao counterpart Khamphau Onthavan co-chaired the function. 

At the meeting, the two sides noted withpleasure the enhanced cooperation between Vietnam and Laos across fields,ranging from politics, security and national defence to economy, trade,investment, transport, education and training. 

In 2017, the two countries plan to exchange manyall-level visits and are joining hands to organise activities celebrating theVietnam-Laos Solidarity and Friendship Year, they said. 

The two sides looked into bottlenecks in thebilateral ties and agreed to continue close coordination to foster the specialrelationship in the time ahead, especially through the implementation ofagreements reached by Vietnamese and Lao high-ranking leaders, and successfulorganisation of the Solidarity and Friendship Year.  

In a parallel effort, they will renewcommunications methods to raise the sense of responsibility among the twocountries’ people, especially youths, for preserving and carrying forward therelationship. 

Reviewing the realisation of cooperationagreements between the two foreign ministries during 2014-2020, they applaudedcontributions made by the agencies to deepening the Vietnam-Laos time-honouredfriendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation over the pasttime. 

Khamphau Onthavan thanked the Vietnamese sidefor training Lao diplomats at the Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam. 

The two ministries consented to forge theircollaboration while partnering with other ministries, agencies and localitiesof both sides to fruitfully implement high-level agreements between the twocountries and their own deals signed for 2014-2020. 

They will also work with each other to preparefor the fourth annual consultation between foreign ministers. 

Following the meeting, the two sides engaged ina roundtable to discuss foreign policies in respective countries, along withregional and international issues of shared concern. 

They agreed to continue closely coordinatingwith each other at regional and international forums, especially within thecooperation framework of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). 

They will team up with other ASEAN nations tomaintain the role and common stance of the ten-member group on strategic issuesin the region. 

The third political consultation is set to takeplace in Vietnam in 2018.-VNA