Vietnam, Laos agree to strengthen coordination in fighting cross-border drugs trafficking

Member of the Politburo and the Minister of Public Security General To Lam, leading a high-ranking delegation of the Ministry of Public Security of Vietnam, has visited the People’s Democratic Republic of Laos at the invitation of Politburo member, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Public Security of Laos General Vilay Lakhamphong.

Right after the official welcome ceremony, the delegation of the Ministry of Public Security of Vietnam led by Minister To Lam held talks with a high-ranking delegation of the Ministry of Public Security of Laos headed by Deputy Prime Minister of Public Security and Minister of Public Security Vilay Lakhamphong on the afternoon of August 24, in Vientiane.

At the meeting, General Vilay Lakhamphong warmly welcomed and highly appreciated the official visit to Laos by Minister To Lam and the high-ranking delegation of the Ministry of Public Security of Vietnam, stating that the visit marked an important milestone in the bilateral relations, and promoted the implementation of the agreements between the two parties and two states of Laos and Vietnam, as well as the cooperation plan between the two ministries. 

According to the host, the visit also contributed to strengthening the great friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between the two Parties and States, the public security forces of Laos and Vietnam.

For his part, Minister To Lam thanked Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Public Security Vilay Lakhamphong and leaders of the Ministry of Public Security of Laos for an esteemed but warm and friendly reception. 

General To Lam congratulated General Vilay Lakhamphong on being appointed by the Lao Party and State to the position of Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Public Security of Laos. He expressed his belief that, in his new position, General Vilay Lakhamphong will definitely contribute more to the cause of construction and development of the Lao PDR in general and the Lao Ministry of Public Security in particular.

During the talks, the two sides have reviewed and assessed the results of the bilateral cooperation in security and order since the beginning of 2022 and proposed orientations for the cooperation between the two ministries in the coming time.

With many important positive results of cooperation achieved by the two ministries, the two sides agreed to enhance coordination in implementing the signed Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation in drug prevention and control, carry out the extensive law dissemination drives in communities living along the shared border, suppress drug trafficking along the borderline, and cooperate in investigating transnational criminal cases involving citizens of the two countries.

They also agreed to increase exchange of delegations, coordinate to organize bilateral ministerial-level conferences between the two ministries on cooperation in drug prevention and control.