Vietnamese, Lao Deputy PMs hold talks

Permanent Deputy Prime Minister Truong Hoa Binh and his Lao counterpart Bounthong Chitmany hol talks, December 10, 2019 - Photo: VGP

The two Deputy PMs made that statement during their talks on December 10 on the occasion of the Vietnamese leader’s first working visit to Laos. 

Lao Deputy PM Bounthong Chitmany stressed the crucial meaning of the visit of deepening Viet Nam-Laos special relationship in all fields, particularly politics-diplomacy, defense-security, economics-trade-investment, justice, religions and nationality. 

The two sides expressed their delight at the intensive and effective development of the bilateral relationship, asserting to continue giving priority and making efforts in consolidating the traditional relations. 

The two leaders consented to effectively realize high-ranking agreements and outcomes of the 41^st session of the inter-Governmental Committee on bilateral cooperation, maintaining delegation exchanges and experience sharing, addressing macro-economic shortcomings and joining hands to organize activities to celebrate big anniversaries in 2020. 

Bounthong Chitmany agreed to continue guiding Lao functional agencies to enhance close cooperation with the Vietnamese functional agencies and prevent trans-national crimes, especially drug crimes. 

Permanent Deputy Prime Minister Truong Hoa Binh and his Lao counterpart Bounthong Chitmany hol talks, December 10, 2019 - Photo: VGP

Viet Nam is willing to share experience in building and completing laws, improving capacity for Lao officials, said Binh, asking the two sides to actively amend the Treaty on Mutual Legal Assistance in Civil and Criminal Matters and soon ink the mutual extradition agreement and  the confidential information agreement as well as effectively launch the cooperation agreement in law and justice in the 2015-2020 period. 

The two sides spoke highly of the active developments in economic cooperation, particularly the two-way trade value over the recent 10 months of 2019 witnessing a year-on-year increase of 12.6%, reaching US$936 million. 

They were unanimous in promoting the trade agreement and the border trade agreement, making plans to negotiate to amend these two agreements in line with the actual situation. 

The Lao side assented to promote coordination in struggling against smuggling, fakes, illegal transportation and develop infrastructure and accelerate communications on preferential policies for border areas. 

The guest affirmed to share experience and support Laos in training on supervision and inspection of goods, strengthen the role of border gates and economic border gates and markets. 

The Vietnamese Deputy PM highly valued Laos’s facilitation for Vietnamese businesses to invest in Laos, which helps Viet Nam to remain the third largest investor in Laos with US$4.22 billion in more than 400 projects. 

He suggested Laos coordinate with Viet Nam to tackle difficulties and obstacles, especially large-scale projects and continue organizing meetings between the Lao leaders and the Vietnamese business community operating in Laos.       

The occasion, the two PMs discussed ways to strengthen cooperation in other crucial sectors such as labor, audit, religions, nationality, inspection and anti-corruption. 

Regarding the international and regional cooperation, Bounthong Chitmany congratulated Viet Nam on winning a non-permanent seat at the United Nations Security Council in the 2020-2021 period, affirming that Lao will do its utmost to back Viet Nam in performing the tasks and her role as the ASEAN Chair in 2020. 

The Lao Deputy PM raised his voice to advocate ASEAN’s standpoint on the regional common security issues, including the East Sea issue and the Mekong water resource. 

By Thuy Dung