Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc (R) receives Lao Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) – Lao Prime Minister ThonglounSisoulith left Hanoi on late December 6, concluding his three-day visit toVietnam to co-chair the 43rd meeting of the Vietnam-Laos Inter-GovernmentalCommittee on bilateral cooperation at the invitation of his Vietnamesecounterpart Nguyen Xuan Phuc.
While in Vietnam, the Lao PM paid a courtesy call to PartyGeneral Secretary and State President Nguyen Phu Trong and met with NationalAssembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan.
At the meetings, the two sides reached high consensus on thecooperation orientations for 2021 and in the next five and 10 years.
They agreed to focus on effectively implementing majoragreements between the two countries, including the Vietnam-Laos cooperationplan for 2021 and the deals signed on this occasion.
The two sides sketched out many drastic and practicalmeasures to continue deepening bilateral political and diplomatic relations,strengthening the defence-security partnership and giving special priority to education-trainingcollaboration.
The two sides will promote economic cooperation, while fosteringthe connectivity between the two economies, especially linkages in transport,infrastructure and telecommunications. They will encourage ministries, sectorslocalities, businesses and people of both sides to expand cooperation andmutual support.
At the same time, the two countries will work together to mobilise resourcesfrom international partners for joint projects and programmes.
The two sides vowed to continue coordinating closely withand support each other at regional and international forums, especially withinthe ASEAN, the Mekong Sub-region cooperation mechanisms and the United Nations.
The two countries will strengthen mutual consultations and assistance toenhance their position and national self-reliance, especially in issues relatedto security and strategy in the region, including the East Sea and Mekongissues. They pledged to work with other ASEAN countries to effectively copewith the COVID-19 pandemic, promoting intra-bloc solidarity and the centralrole of the ASEAN as well as the building of ASEAN Community.
The two PMs pledged to direct ministries, sectors,localities and relevant agencies of the two sides to work together toeffectively implement bilateral agreements and commitments, including thecreation of optimal conditions for businesses of both sides to cooperate ininvestment and production./.
VNA
