Vietnam, Laos commit to boosting ties

Vice President Nguyen Thi Doan and her Lao counterpart Bounnhang Vorachith reached a number of commitments to boost bilateral ties during their talks in Vientiane on October 15.

The talks took place following a ceremony welcoming the Vietnamese guest to the country from October 15-18.

To foster the traditional friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and Laos, both sides pledged to facilitate visits by senior leaders and realise signed agreements and key cooperation mechanisms, including making thorough preparations for the 38th meeting of the Vietnam-Laos Inter-Governmental Committee and annual ministerial-level exchanges in late 2015.

They also reached consensus on joint preparations for major national celebrations in the remaining months of this year, including the 40th anniversary of Lao National Day and the 95th birth anniversary of Lao President Kaysone Phomvihane.

A protocol on Vietnam-Laos borderline and border demarcation and an agreement on border and border gate management are expected to be signed before the year’s end.

Vietnamese and Lao leaders pledged to strengthen cooperation in national defence-security, including fighting trans-national crimes, ensuring security and development in border areas, and addressing free migration and illegitimate marriages.

On trade promotion, they set their sights on realising a new trade agreement and a border trade agreement, devising a comprehensive master plan on Vietnam-Laos border trade until 2025 with vision to 2020 and boosting transport and energy connectivity with a focus on materialising a strategy on transport cooperation for 2016-2025 with a vision towards 2030.

Other collaboration areas include clearing business obstacles, training human resources, increasing exchanges and within culture, sports, communications, science and technology.

The two countries will work closely at regional and global forums, build the ASEAN Community in late 2015 and maintain ASEAN’s central role and common voice on strategic issues of significance in the region, including the East Sea issue.

Vice President Doan reiterated Vietnam’s support to Laos in successfully undertaking its role as Chair of ASEAN in 2016.

Host and guest also mentioned the Mekong and regional coordination.

On the same day, the Vietnamese guest paid courtesy calls to Party General Secretary and President Choummaly Sayasone and Prime Minister Thongsin Thammavong.

The hosts stressed that Lao advocates further nurturing the comprehensive cooperation between the two Parties and governments in anticipation of the upcoming National Party Congress in each country in early 2016.

In the evening, Doan attended a banquet hosted by her Lao counterpart.-VNA