VN, Laos vow to place top priority on nurturing ties

PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc and Lao PM Thongloun Sisoulith hold talks in Vientiane capital on April 26 as part of the former's official visit to Laos. Photo: VGP

During their talks in Vientiane capital on Wednesday, the two PMs agreed that the exchange of visits by the two countries’ leaders shortly after elections is the vivid evidence of the purity, faith, trust and solidarity between the two sides’ leaders and peoples.

The two sides agreed to continue fruitful implementation of high-level agreements, especially the Joint Statements issued during Vietnamese Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong’s official visit to Laos in November 2016 and Lao Party chief and President Bounnhang Volachith’s official visit to Viet Nam in April 2016 and the outcomes of the 39^th meeting of the Inter-Governmental Committee on bilateral cooperation.

Both sides promised to continue enhancing the exchange of high-level delegations and contacts, political trust, and effectiveness of cooperation in all fields, including politics, diplomacy, security and defense, economy, trade and investment.

The two PMs agreed to raise the two-way trade value by 10% in 2017 and improve economic connectivity, especially in terms of telecommunication, energy and transport in line with the Master Plan on ASEAN Connectivity through new investment projects

They vowed to effectively realize the Protocol on defense-security cooperation for the period 2016-2020, the Protocol on the borderline and national markers, and the Regulations on management of borderline and border gates.

Both sides agreed to accelerate cultural and people-to-people exchanges and coordinate in organizing activities to mark the 55^th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties and the 40^th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty on Friendship and Cooperation.

The countries committed to continuing close coordination at international and regional forums like the United Nations, ASEAN and other sub-regional mechanisms; supporting their initiatives and activities within ASEAN and ASEAN-led frameworks; working together to build a strong ASEAN Community and enhance the bloc’s solidarity and central role.

Both sides also pledged to continue strengthening cooperation and coordination between themselves and with relevant countries and organizations for effective and sustainable management and use of the Mekong water resources in the way of harmonizing interests of people living along the river while developing a coordination mechanism for evaluating and supervising impacts of using the water resources.

The two PMs underlined the importance of maintaining peace, stability, security, safety and freedom of navigation and aviation in the East Sea, settling disputes through peaceful measures on the basis of international law, including the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, fully and effectively implementing the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC) and working towards to early conclusion of a Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC), including the finalization of the COC framework by mid-2017 in order to contribute to peace, security, stability, cooperation and development in the region and the world.

Their talks took place in the atmosphere of friendship, sincerity, mutual trust and understanding./.

By Quang Minh