Deputy PM Dung holds talks with Lao counterpart

VGP – Viet Nam and Laos have agreed to continue coordination in realizing the agreement on settling undocumented marriage and free migration in the border areas and accelerate the signing of agreements on security and judicial cooperation.

June 24, 2019 7:08 PM GMT+7

Deputy Prime Minister Trinh Dinh Dung and his Lao counterpart Sonexay Siphandone in Vientiane, Laos, June 24, 2019. Photo: VGP

The agreement was reached by Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister Trinh Dinh Dung and his Lao counterpart Sonexay Siphandone in Vientiane on June 24.

The two Deputy PMs discussed on measures to further step up bilateral economic cooperation and to address obstacles faced by Vietnamese investors in Laos.

The two-way trade rose 13.4% to nearly US$493 million in the first five months this year while Viet Nam still remained the 3^rd biggest foreign investor in Laos with 410 projects capitalized at US$ 4.22 billion, according to Deputy PM Dung.

Dung suggested the Lao side continue creating more favorable conditions for Vietnamese businesses to seek opportunities and soon organize the second dialogue between the Lao Prime Minister and Vietnamese investors.

He also took the occasion to ask the Government of Laos to symplify procedures for Vietnamese laborers to get work permits and reduce related costs.

At the talks between the two Deputy Prime Ministers. Photo: VGP

Meanwhile. Deputy PM Sonexay suggested the two countries diversify trade promotion activities and beef up crafting and signing of a memorandum of understanding/agreement on border trade infrastructure development and connectivity in 2019.

He also asked the two countries to consider amendments to the bilateral trade agreement and border trade agreement signed in 2015 in order to facilitate businesses’ operations.

Sonexay spoke highly of the Vietnamese Government’s efforts in stepping up construction of the Lao National Assembly buiding project.

Both sides agreed to work together to review the implementation of the project on improving the quality and effectiveness of bilateral education and human resource development cooperation for 2011-2020 period and design new project for the next decade.

After the talks, the two Deputy PMs witnessed the signing ceremony of power purchasing contract between the Viet Nam Electricity Corporation and Laos' Phongsubthavy Group Co., Ltd./.

By Huong Giang