Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh (L) and his Lao counterpart Sonexay Siphandone at the ceremony concluding the Vietnam-Laos, Laos-Vietnam Solidarity and Friendship Year 2022 on January 11. (Photo: VNA) The leaders said during their talks, which tookplace earlier the same day, they agreed on measures to enhance and improve theefficiency of cooperation across spheres.
The two sides will also increase high-levelexchanges and meetings through all channels, helping to promote the politicalties and mutual trust between the two Parties and countries.
They were resolved to make economic cooperation onpar with the bilateral special relationship, and support each other in post-COVID-19recovery in building economies of independence, self-reliance, and intensive,extensive and effective international integration.
The PMs consented to step up economic connectivity,in both soft and hard infrastructure, especially by accelerating theimplementation of strategic projects in transport, telecoms, energy, financeand banking.
Host and guest said they two sides have paid dueattention to raising the quality of collaboration in education and training,and concurred to continue their coordination in materialising the project onimproving the quality and efficiency of cooperation in education and humanresources development between the two countries in 2021-2030.
They also exchanged views on some regional andinternational issues of shared concern, and pledged to maintain their closecoordination and mutual support at multilateral forums, especially theAssociation of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and Mekong sub-regioncooperation mechanisms.
Vietnam will wholeheartedly support Laos tosuccessfully assume international tasks in the time ahead, including itshosting of the 10th Ayeyawady-Chao Phraya-Mekong EconomicCooperation Strategy Summit (ACMECS) in 2023 and its Chairmanship of ASEAN andthe ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA) in 2024.
Vietnamese and Lao officials pose for a group photo at the ceremony in Vientiane on January 11. (Photo: VNA) PM Chinh stressed the significance of the 2022 Vietnam-Laos,Laos-Vietnam Solidarity and Friendship Year as the two countries celebrated the60th anniversary of their diplomatic ties and 45 years since thesigning of the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation.
Following the launch of the Solidarity andFriendship Year, co-chaired by the two PMs in Hanoi in January 2022, Vietnam’snational steering committee for the Solidarity and Friendship Year announcedthe list of 75 celebration activities organised by the Vietnamese side throughthe year, according to Chinh.
The biggest event was the celebration of the 60th anniversary of the diplomatic ties between Vietnam and Laos and the 45th anniversary of the singing of the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation between the two nations held simultaneously in Hanoiand Vientiane on July 18, with Vietnamese Party General Secretary Nguyen PhuTrong and Party General Secretary and State President of Laos ThonglounSisoulith delivering speeches, he recalled.
Chinh said delegation exchanges have contributed to tighteningthe Vietnam-Laos relations, adding that an array of cultural, art, sports andpeople-to-people exchanges were held in the year.
Such activities have helped to raise publicawareness, particularly young generations of the two countries, of therelationship, especially since the establishment of the diplomatic ties.
Chinh affirmed that the Vietnam-Laos, Laos-VietnamSolidarity and Friendship Year was a success, which has created momentum forthe special relationship to grow more intensively, extensively and effectively,for the sake of the two countries’ people, and for peace, prosperity,stability, cooperation and development in the region and the world.
The two PMs announced the conclusion of the 2022 Vietnam-Laos,Laos-Vietnam Solidarity and Friendship Year, and expressed their wish that thegreat friendship, special solidarity, and comprehensive cooperation will begreen and sustainable forever./.
VNA
