
Vientiane (VNA) – Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc arrived in Wattay internationalairport in Laos’s capital city of Vientiane on the morning of February 4 forthe 40th meeting of the Vietnam-Laos Inter-government Committee towhich he is the co-chair.
On February 4, PM Phuc is scheduled to join with PM Thongloun Sisoulith in aninaugural and hand-over ceremony held for the scientific and technologicalhuman resources training centre and another ceremony to inaugurate theheadquarters of the Star-Telecom Group.
PM Phuc will visitthe Embassy of Vietnam in Laos and attend the Lunar New Year (Tet) programmewith the embassy’s staff and representatives of the Vietnamese community inLaos.
PMs Phuc andSisoulith will co-chair the 40th meeting of the Vietnam-LaosInter-governmental Committee on February 5, during which the two sides willreview the cooperation between the two countries in 2017 and seek new,breakthrough solutions to improving the cooperation in 2018.
Vietnam and Laos set up diplomatic ties on September 5, 1962 and signed aTreaty of Friendship and Cooperation on July 18, 1977, which are consideredimportant milestones in bilateral relations.
The two countriesorganised hundreds of activities during the Vietnam-Laos Solidarity andFriendship Year 2017, attracting the participation of all-level authorities,sectors and a large number of people. Notably, they exchanged nearly 300delegations at all levels.
Vietnam and Laos have enjoyed close-knit traditional friendship, specialsolidarity and comprehensive cooperation.
Trade between Laosand Vietnam topped 900 million USD in 2017, a year-on-year increase of over 10percent. The two countries have set a target of 4 billion USD by 2020.
Vietnam and Laoshave coordinated closely and supported each other at regional and internationalforums and increased cooperation with other ASEAN member countries in buildingthe ASEAN Community and maintaining the bloc’s solidarity and consensus in strategicregional issues.-VNA