Lao Prime Minister Phankham Viphavanh. Photo: khmertimeskh.com

Prime Minister Phankham Viphavanh will lead a high-ranking delegation of the Lao Government to pay an official visit to Vietnam from January 8-10 at the invitation of his Vietnamese counterpart Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh.

The political relations between Vietnam and Laos have been further consolidated based on mutual trust and closeness between the two parties and countries, said the Ambassador.

Despite the complicated developments of the Covid-19 pandemic, senior leaders of both nations have conducted regular exchanges and meetings in various forms, notably the official visit to Vietnam by General Secretary and President of Laos Thongloun Sisoulith in June, 2021, and the official visit to Laos by President Nguyen Xuan Phuc last August, VOV cited the ambassador as saying.

During these visits, the two countries’ leaders delivered several important messages, strongly affirming their political determination to successfully implement the foreign policy set forth by the 11th Congress of the Laos People's Revolutionary Party and the 13th Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam.

Both sides affirmed the top priority given to consolidating and developing long-term, effective, and sustainable special relations between the two nations.

Security and defence co-operation has been strengthened, remaining a solid pillar of the two countries' relations. Last year, Vietnam and Laos successfully organised the first joint border defence friendship exchange programme.

Ambassador to Laos Nguyen Ba Hung. Photo: VNA

Economic, scientific, technical, cultural, and educational co-operation has continued to be consolidated, becoming increasingly effective and practical. In particular, projects connecting the two economies, transportation, and energy infrastructure, were prioritised by the two Governments, thereby achieving many important results and creating a premise in which the two countries can effectively implement more projects moving forward.

Vietnam has also supported Laos to overcome current difficulties through sharing experience and lessons on macroeconomic issues. Although border trade between the two countries is facing plenty of difficulties due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the bilateral trade turnover continued to grow by about 13% to 14%.

First visit by a foreign leader to Vietnam this year

Regarding the significance of the Lao PM’s upcoming visit to Vietnam and the prospects of mutual relations in the time ahead, Ambassador Hung said this is the first visit to the country made by PM Viphavan in his new position, as well as the first visit of a foreign senior leader to the nation this year.

In addition to the positive contributions to building and consolidating the personal relationship between PM Viphavan and senior Vietnamese leaders, the visit is a testament to the special "unique" close-knit relationship between both sides.

The visit is viewed as an appropriate occasion for senior leaders of the two countries to compare notes on international and regional issues of shared concern and seek solutions to deal with challenges in the new situation, thereby contributing to peace, security, stability, and development in the region and the world.

During the visit, Vietnamese and Laotian PMs will co-chair the 44th meeting of the Vietnam-Laos Joint Committee that will provide a chance for both sides to understand more about each other’s socio-economic situation, development orientations, and external policies.

The two sides will seek breakthrough measures to further deepen the bilateral ties in a more practical and effective manner.

The visit will also mark the opening of the “Vietnam-Laos, Laos-Vietnam Friendship and Solidarity Year 2022” on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic relations and 45 years of the Vietnam-Laos Treaty of Amity and Cooperation.

Economic co-operation expected to flourish

Vietnamese companies have been eager to invest in Laos, sharing technical knowhow and supporting development. Photo: VIR

Moving forward, the Governments, ministries, sectors, and localities of both sides will continue to boost closer co-ordination to effectively implement the high-level agreements between the two countries, especially the agreement on bilateral co-operation in the 2021 to 2025 period, and the joint strategic co-operation agreement for 2021 to 2030, he said.

With Laos' efforts to improve the local business environment and bring its products to the 100-million-strong Vietnamese market and to the whole world through Vietnamese seaports, economic co-operation between is expected to grow and flourish, bringing practical benefits to both peoples, Ambassador Hung said.

With regard to measures taken by both sides to further promote their long-standing special ties, the diplomat suggested there should be a focus on further deepening political relations, effectively carrying out their high-level agreements, enhancing the efficiency of current cooperation mechanisms, and continuing to raise awareness of the special ties among their peoples.

They should strive to expand economic partnership by broadening their transport connections within the East-West Corridor, devising special policies to facilitate business co-operation, and remove obstacles in the field, while working closely together to develop human resources to meet the development demands.

The Ambassador also expressed his belief that the two countries will continue to unite in the process of national development, enhance the effectiveness of the special relationship, and make positive contributions to peace, stability, co-operation, and development in the region and throughout the world./.

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