State President Nguyen Xuan Phuc (R) hosts visiting Lao Prime Minister Phankham Viphavanh in Hanoi on January 8. (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) – State President Nguyen XuanPhuc and Lao Prime Minister Phankham Viphavanh shared the view that both sidesmust foster closer coordination and come up with breakthrough measures to enhancetheir cooperation’s effectiveness while meeting in Hanoi on January 8.
The Lao PM is on an official visit to Vietnam until January10 at the invitation of his counterpart PM Pham Minh Chinh.
Welcoming PM Phankham Viphavanh, President Phuc said heexpects the visit will provide a new impetus for the Vietnam-Laos specialrelations to expand further. He also expressed his delight at what Laos hasachieved in recent years.
Phankham Viphavanh also highly spoke of major achievements madeby Vietnamese people over the past years, saying under the leadership of theCommunist Party of Vietnam (CPV), the Vietnamese people will succeed inimplementing the Resolution of the 13th National Party Congress andthe Socio-economic Development Strategy for the 2021 – 2030 period.
Both leaders said they are pleased to see the sustainablegrowth of the comprehensive partnership and great friendship between the twocountries, and highly valued each other’s support in fighting COVID-19.
Phuc suggested the two sides should continue promoting theirstrong political ties and unleashing their potential and advantages inimplementing specific cooperation plans, projects and works.
The two leaders agreed Vietnam and Laos must work togetherto solve problems and challenges their businesses are facing to boost investors’confidence; accelerate economic links between the two nations; and make themost of free trade agreements to which they are signatories.
They also wanted the two countries to expand connections inboth hard and soft infrastructure, energy, telecommunications, and digitaleconomy.
They highly valued coordination and support received fromeach other at multilateral forums, particularly within the framework of the UN,ASEAN and sub-regional cooperation. They agreed to together with other ASEANmember states to back Cambodia in its ASEAN Chairmanship for 2022 and maintain thebloc’s solidarity and centrality.
Phuc later took the occasion to ask his guest to convey his greetings to PartyGeneral Secretary and President Thongloun Sisoulith and other leaders ofLaos./.
