Hanoi (VNA) – President Vo Van Thuong’s officialvisit to Laos on April 10 and 11 has contributed to creating a new impetus forcooperation between the two countries in 2023 across all key fields, frompolitics and diplomacy to security, economy, education and training, scienceand technology, culture, sports and tourism on the basis of the effectiveimplementation of their high-level agreements, Minister of Foreign Affairs BuiThanh Son has said.

Son made the statement while talking to the presson the outcomes of the trip, the first to a foreign country by the Presidentsince he took office. He considered the visit ‘special and meaningful in manyaspects’, demonstrating Vietnam’s consistent policy of attaching importance andgiving the highest priority to the great friendship, special solidarity andcomprehensive cooperation with Laos.

According to the minister, the visit lasted about30 hours and covered 18 different activities, including talks and meetings withleaders and former leaders of the Party, State, Government and NationalAssembly of Laos.

He went on to specify five outstanding outcomes ofthe significant trip.

First, the two sides further affirmed theirdetermination to constantly strengthen and develop the two countries’ special solidarityin general, as well as the closeness and trust at a high level between theirtop leaders in particular.

Second, the Vietnamese and Laotian leaders agreedon measures to continue effectively carrying out the high-level agreements ofthe two Parties and countries, contributing to creating a new impetus topromote the bilateral relations in the near future, especially in the fields ofpolitics, national defence, economy, education, culture, sports, tourism, andpeople-to-people exchange.

On that basis, the two sides concurred tocollaborate in the effective implementation of an agreement between the twoPolitburos, the Vietnam-Laos cooperation strategy for 2021-2030; and theVietnam-Laos bilateral cooperation agreement for 2021-2025. As part of the trip,the two sides signed two important cooperation pacts in the field of scienceand technology.
         
Third, promoting the positive effects of theVietnam-Laos Solidarity and Friendship Year 2022, the two sides agreed to stepup communications and education of their people, especially the younggenerations, on the historical tradition of their special and closerelationship, so that they can clearly see the responsibility of workingtogether to constantly cultivate and maintain such a unique, pure and faithfulrelationship.

Fourth, Vietnam and Laos committed to closelycoordinate and support each other at regional and international forums,especially within the ASEAN framework; and working together to maintainsolidarity and promote the ASEAN centrality.

President Thuong affirmed that Vietnam willactively support Laos to successfully undertake international responsibilitiesin the coming time, including the role of ASEAN Chair in 2024 and theorganisation of the first National Assembly Summit between Cambodia, Laos, andVietnam, expected to be held at the end of 2023.

Fifth, within the framework of the visit, thePresident met and talked with representatives of the Vietnamese community andbusinesses in Laos, promptly encouraging them to overcome difficulties, upholdthe spirit of solidarity, make efforts to contribute to Laos's post-COVID-19socio-economic recovery and development, and contribute to fostering the twonations’ friendship and solidarity.

The Lao leaders also agreed to continue to payattention and devise mechanisms and policies to create favourable conditionsfor the stability and development of the Vietnamese community in Laos, Sonadded./.