Lao Minister of Planning and Investment Khamjane Vongxa (Photo: VNA) In an interview granted to the media of both countries,Minister Khamjane stated that 2022 is a year of great historical significancewhen the Lao Party, army and people are coordinating with the Vietnamese sides incarrying out many practical activities to celebrate the Laos-Vietnam Friendshipand Solidarity Year marking 60 years of the establishment of diplomaticrelations and 45 years of the signing of the Treaty on Amity and Cooperationbetween the two countries.
In 2021, despite complicated developments of the regional andworld situations, the bilateral great friendship, special solidarity andcomprehensive cooperation were enhanced.
This year, the two sides continue to strengthen and improvethe effectiveness of cooperation mechanisms; implement joint statements, bilateralcooperation agreements and documents as well as the outcomes of visits and meetingsbetween their leaders in appropriate forms; coordinate and effectively organiseactivities on the occasion of the Friendship and Solidarity Year 2022; and payattention to preventing drug, human trafficking and smuggling crimes andillegal exploitation of natural resources, he said.
Regarding economic cooperation, the minister stated that Vietnamhas to date invested in 417 projects worth 4.3 billion USD, ranking third outof 54 nations and territories pouring capital in Laos.
Last year, two-way trade hit 1.37 billion USD, up 33.3 percentyear-on-year. They are striving to increase the turnover to 10-15 percent thisyear.
The two countries are also making efforts to promoteconnectivity between the two economies, including hard and soft infrastructure,especially road, railway, airport and seaport projects such as Nongkhang airport,Vung Ang 1,2,3 wharves, Laos-Vietnam railway and Hanoi-Vientiane expressway./.
VNA
