Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh and Lao Foreign Minister Saleumxay Kommasith (Source: VNA)
Vientiane (VNA) – Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh on July 23 met the Foreign Ministers of Laos and Brunei on the occasion of the ongoing 49th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting (AMM-49) and related meetings in Vientiane from July 23-26.
The Deputy PM and Lao Foreign Minister Saleumxay Kommasith agreed at their meeting to push forward with the implementation of agreements reached during visits by the two countries’ leaders, as well as the outcomes of the 38 th meeting of the Inter-Government Committee on Bilateral Cooperation.
They promised to coordinate activities to celebrate the 55 th anniversary of the bilateral diplomatic ties and the 40 th anniversary of the signing of the Vietnam-Laos Treaty of Amity and Cooperation this year.
Deputy PM Minh spoke highly of Laos’ efforts as ASEAN Chair this year, including the thorough preparations for the AMM-49 and related meetings.
Vietnam will actively partner with Laos and other ASEAN member states to successfully build the ASEAN Community, particularly in realising the ASEAN Vision 2025, upholding ASEAN solidarity and increasing efforts to enhance ASEAN’s central role in maintaining peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region, he said.
The Lao minister, for his part, thanked Vietnam for assisting Laos in working as the Chair of ASEAN this year and vowed to closely work with Vietnam to ensure the bloc’s common success.
Meeting Brunei Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Lim Jock Seng, Deputy PM Minh said Vietnam will work closely with Brunei to ensure the success of the upcoming Brunei visit by President Tran Dai Quang.
The two sides committed to convening the Vietnam-Brunei Joint Committee on Bilateral Cooperation’s meeting this year in order to promptly carry out the outcomes of the visit, thus contributing to further deepening bilateral ties.
Discussing measures to promote economic, trade and investment ties, the two sides looked toward the early conclusion of negotiations and signing of the Vietnam-Brunei agreement on investment encouragement and protection while providing all possible support for the two countries’ businesses.
The Brunei side pledged to consider Vietnam’s proposal on facilitating Vietnamese businesses
access to the Brunei market and enhancing energy and oil and gas cooperation by making it easier for PetroVietnam to supply oil and gas services in Brunei or cooperate with Brunei partners to operate in a third country.-VNA
