President Thuong announces gift worth US$1 million to Laos

Their talks came following a welcome ceremony held for President Thuong hosted by President Sisoulith on the same day.

The Laotian President greatly appreciated the significance of the visit, while emphasizing that President Thuong chose Laos as the first country to visit in his new position, showing the importance that the Party and State of Vietnam and the Vietnamese President personally attach to the great friendship, special solidarity, and comprehensive co-operation ties between Vietnam and Laos.

President Sisoulith conveyed his best wishes to General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and senior Vietnamese leaders and congratulated the country on the great and comprehensive achievements in implementing the Resolution of the 13th National Party Congress and Vietnamese socio-economic development plan over recent times.

He highlighted the country’s achievements as a great source of encouragement for the Laotian revolutionary cause.

The two leaders expressed their delight at the positive development of the great friendship, special solidarity, and comprehensive links between the two countries over recent time.

Despite being impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, the two sides made great efforts to maintain high-level delegations and meetings, while also continuing to promote the effectiveness of bilateral co-operation mechanisms, thereby helping to maintain and strengthen close political relations and build trust at the highest level.

In 2022 the two sides successfully co-ordinated to organise hundreds of activities at all levels within the framework of the "Vietnam - Laos, Laos - Vietnam Year of Solidarity and Friendship 2022" and defence and security co-operation was increasingly effective.

Attention was given to boosting economic ties, in which trade and investment continue to be a bright spot, with many ODA projects being completed and used effectively.

Co-operation in the fields of culture, social affairs, education, sports, people-to-people exchanges, and co-operation between localities, especially among border provinces, continued to be strengthened, thereby producing concrete benefits.

Host and guest enjoyed a reliable, honest, and frank exchange on orientations and measures to augment all fields of co-operation amid the current complicated situation in both the world and in the region.

The two countries must therefore strive to strengthen consultation, exchange of experience, and mutual support to overcome challenges and difficulties, together building an independent, self-reliant economy featuring extensive international integration.

Accordingly, the two leaders reaffirmed both nations’ consistent policy of always attaching great importance to and giving the highest possible priority to consolidating and cultivating the great friendship, special solidarity, and all-around co-operation between both sides.

Moving forward they will continue to focus on effectively implementing high-level agreements between the two countries, as well as between central and local ministries and agencies, strengthening consultations regarding strategic issues, and intensifying the exchange of visits and meetings at all levels.

General Secretary of the Laos People’s Revolutionary Party and President of Laos Thongloun Sisoulith (third from right)

They will also review and improve the effectiveness of co-operation mechanisms, while continuing to enhance the positive results and effects of "The Year of Solidarity and Friendship between Vietnam - Laos, Laos - Vietnam 2022" in a bid to step up propaganda and education about the traditional history of special solidarity relations between the two nations.

Both sides agreed to co-ordinate in building works and historical relic sites regarding Vietnam - Laos relations, including the Laos - Vietnam Friendship Park in Vientiane.

They also concurred to bolster security-defence as a key pillar to deal with new challenges, continue to co-ordinate, thereby supporting each other to ensure political stability, security, social order, and safety in each country.

They consented to fully implement the agreements between the Ministry of National Defence and the Ministry of Public Security of the two countries, closely work together in border management and protection, especially preventing and combating transnational crimes, drug crimes, illegal exploitation of natural resources, and illegal entry and exit.

They will progress with effective linkages in finding and repatriating the remains of Vietnamese volunteer soldiers and experts who died in Laos, as well as embellishing the monuments of the Vietnam-Laos fighting alliance.

The two sides agreed to make efforts in a bid to raise the level of economic ties to be commensurate with the stature of political relations; strengthen the exchange of experience in macroeconomic management and anti-corruption, upgrade international border gates and roads connecting the two countries, as well as constantly improving the efficiency of ties in the fields of education and training, tourism, energy, clean agriculture, science, technology, health, culture, people-to-people exchange, and between localities.

The two leaders compared notes on international and regional issues of mutual concern and agreed that in the context of the rapidly evolving and complex world and regional situation, the two sides should enhance information sharing, co-ordination, and close ties at regional and international forums, thereby ensuring solidarity and promoting the central role of ASEAN and ASEAN-led mechanisms.

President Thuong affirmed that  the Vietnamese side will wholeheartedly support Laos in successfully assuming the role of ASEAN Chair in 2024 and is ready to help the Lao National Assembly successfully undertake international tasks in the coming time, including the organisation of the first Cambodia - Laos - Vietnam National Assembly Summit in Vientiane this year.

The Vietnamese President respectfully re-invited President Sisoulith to pay an official visit to Vietnam at a convenient time, with the Laotian President accepting the invitation with pleasure.

After talks, the leaders witnessed the signing and exchange of two co-operation documents.