Minister: PM’s Lao visit achieves comprehensive, substantial results
Hanoi (VNA) – The official visit to Laos by Prime
Minister Pham Minh Chinh is a success, contributing to realising
diplomatic policy set by the 13th National Party Congress which
advocates valuing the development of ties with neighbouring and ASEAN
countries, with the top priority given to Laos, said Minister of Foreign
Affairs Bui Thanh Son.
Speaking with the press,
Minister Son said the January 11-12 visit at the invitation of Lao PM Sonexay
Siphandone was the first made by the Vietnamese PM, wrapping up the
Vietnam-Laos, Laos-Vietnam Solidarity and Friendship Year 2022.
PM Chinh was also the first
foreign leader to visit Laos in 2023 and the first foreign partner welcomed by
the Lao PM since he took office.
The Vietnam-Laos Inter-Governmental
Committee’s 45th meeting, co-chaired by the two PMs, was also the
first to return to Laos after four years of being held in Vietnam.
With a busy schedule of
nearly 20 activities in about 30 hours, Son said PM Chinh had held talks with
his Lao counterpart, paid courtesy calls to the Lao Party General Secretary and State President, met the President of National Assembly, received Chairman of the
Central Committee of Vietnam-Laos Friendship Association, visited former
leaders of the Lao Party and State, co-chaired the 45th meeting of
the Vietnam-Laos Inter-Governmental Committee, attended and delivered a speech
at the Vietnam-Laos investment conference.
Both sides signed 10
cooperation documents to further boost ties across economic diplomacy, digital partnership,
judicial assistance in civil affairs, education-training, finance-banking,
health care, waterway transport and training of diplomatic officials.
Son said the visit has brought
about comprehensive, substantial and specific results. A highlight of which was
the closing ceremony of the Vietnam-Laos, Laos-Vietnam Solidarity and
Friendship Year 2022 co-chaired by the two PMs. It was an important event to
review a successful year of bilateral special relationship.
Apart from political,
defence and economic ties, both sides also agreed to keep improving the quality
of cooperation in education-training, justice, sci-tech, culture, tourism,
people-to-people and locality-to-locality cooperation, particularly border
provinces.
During the 45th meeting of the Vietnam-Laos Inter-Governmental Committee, they vowed to
continue upholding the effectiveness of joint projects last year, fixing
obstacles and accelerating key projects.
The two sides also affirmed
determination to work closely together and offer mutual support at regional and
global multilateral forums, especially at the United Nations, ASEAN and
sub-regional cooperation mechanisms.
The two Government leaders pledged
to maintain ASEAN’s solidarity and central role, as well as ASEAN’s common
stance on strategic issues, including the East Sea issue.
The Vietnamese PM expressed
readiness to help Laos successfully take over international tasks in the near
future such as ASEAN/AIPA chairmanship in 2024.
Son concluded that with the
above achievements, the visit has generated a new impetus for Vietnam-Laos
special cooperative ties for the benefit of the two nations and for peace, stability
and development in the region./.