Lao leader’s Vietnam visit contributes to tightening bilateral relations hinh anh 1General Secretary of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party and President of Laos Thongloun Sisoulith (Photo: Xinhua/VNA)

Hanoi (VNA)
- The Paxason (The People) newspaper of Laos on June 25 ran an article highlighting the upcoming visit to Vietnam by General Secretary of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party and President of Laos Thongloun Sisoulith from June 28-29, stressing that the trip is hoped to further strengthen Laos-Vietnam special relations.

According to the article, the visit is the first official external activity of the highest-ranking leader of the Lao Party and State after the 11th National Congress of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party (LPRP).

This is also the first official friendship visit to Vietnam by Thongloun Sisoulith as Party General Secretary and President of Laos, it said.

Despite the complicated developments of the COVID-19 pandemic, the great friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and Laos still recorded fruitful and practical development across fields through various forms between the two Parties, States, and people, and between their ministries, sectors and localities.

Political relations have been further strengthened with mutual trust, the article said, noting that this plays a central role in directing the bilateral relations.

Cooperation mechanisms between ministries and sectors of the two countries have been maintained and proven effective, it said, noting that Lao leaders and public opinion have highly valued Vietnam for sharing COVID-19 prevention experience with, providing material and spiritual support for, and helping Lao address natural disasters when Vietnam is also facing many difficulties.

The defence and security cooperation continues to be one of the important pillars in the Vietnam-Laos relationship. The two sides have actively implemented the five-year cooperation minutes and the annual cooperation plan on defence and security, significantly contributing to maintaining political stability, ensuring security and order, social safety in each country.

The two countries have coordinated closely in implementing border regulations and agreements between the two governments on dealing with free migration and unregistered marriages in border areas, and in searching for and gathering remains of Vietnamese soldiers and experts who laid down their lives while carrying out international missions in Laos.

According to the newspaper, in terms of economic, trade and investment cooperation, Vietnam is now the third largest foreign investor in Laos with over 413 projects worth about 4.22 billion USD.

In the field of education and personnel training, the two sides have coordinated to implement a plan to improve the quality and effectiveness of education and human resource development cooperation between Laos and Vietnam in 2021 – 2022. Vietnam has granted 1,220 scholarships to Lao students.

Cooperation between localities, especially those sharing borders, has been strengthened, especially in infrastructure development, health care, human resource development, and ensuring security, social order and safety in border areas.

Laos and Vietnam have regularly worked closely and supported each other at regional and international forums, the article said.

The above-mentioned cooperation results  have importantly contributed to maintaining political stability and socio-economic development in the two countries, further deepening the Vietnam – Laos great friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation, and improving the positions and roles of the two Parties and States for peace, cooperation, development and stability in the region and the world.

The article showed the belief that the Lao leader’s visit to Vietnam will help further bolster the bilateral relations, bringing practical benefits to their people./.

VNA