VN, Laos poised to enhance extraordinary friendliness

In Vientiane, PM Nguyễn Tấn Dũng paid a courtesy visit to General Secretary and State President Choummaly Sayasone, had a meeting with the National Assembly President Thoongsinh Thamạvong and conducted talks with PM Bouasone Bouphavanh. He laid garlands at the Monument for Martyrs and Heroes.

Lao PM  Bouasone Buphavanh receives PM Nguyễn Tấn Dũng – Photo: VNGOVNet

On December 19, at the Office of the Lao Premier Palace, Lao PM Bouasone Buphavanh had talks with his Vietnamese counterpart. The talks were attended by Lao Deputy PM and Foreign Minister Thongloun Sisoulith, leaders and representatives of the ministries of Foreign Affairs, Energy and Mining, Education, National Defense, Security, Natural Resources and Environment, Education, and Transport and other senior officials. The Vietnamese delegation included Deputy PM and Foreign Minister Phạm Gia Khiêm, and leaders and representatives of the Government Office and the ministries of Foreign Affairs, Industry, National Defense, Public Security, Trade, Planning and Investment, Agriculture and Rural Development, Education and Training, and Transport.

Senior delegations of the Vietnamese and Lao Governments in talks - Photo: VNGOVNet

At the talks, the two PMs informed each other of the situations in the two countries and expressed their gladness that the two countries’ traditional friendship, extraordinary unity and comprehensive cooperation have been continuously growing in all fields. Especially, their economic, trade and investment cooperation has seen considerable improvements; the cultural and scientific-technical cooperation between Laos and Vietnam have been deepened and yielded fruits. The two-way trade turnover has increased year by year on incentive policies awarded to each other. Vietnam has been involved in many investment projects in Laos with a total capital of nearly US$500 million, focusing on electricity, forestry, mineral exploitation and mining, and transport. Educational and training cooperation is considered a strategic long-term policy upheld by the two sides and has recorded good results.

The two PMs affirmed their determination to set up proper regimes and policies to fulfill each country’s potentialities and make use of their advantages to strengthen their cooperation in economy, culture, science and technique in the new context.

The two sides agreed to frequently exchange delegations at all levels, between sectors, localities and social organizations of the two countries. The leaders pledged to direct Vietnamese and Lao ministries, sectors and localities in commemorating in 2007 the 45^th anniversary of the establishment of bilateral diplomatic ties and the 30^th anniversary of the signing of the Vietnam-Laos Friendship and Cooperation Treaty.

Mentioning international and regional situations, the two sides showed their satisfaction about their close cooperation and mutual support at international and regional fora. The two PMs stressed the need for further close and effective bilateral cooperation in East-West Corridor, Greater Mekong Subregion, ACMECS, and CLMV projects. The two sides confirmed that Vietnam and Laos will collaborate with Cambodia to form the Development Triangle between the three countries.

After the talks, the two PMs witnessed the signing ceremony of the Energy Cooperation Agreement between the two Governments, the Agreement between the Vietnam Trade Ministry and the Lao Industry and Commerce Ministry on commodities enjoying preferential export and import tax rates, and other cooperation agreements in energy, rubber planting, and mining between Vietnamese and Lao enterprises.

On the same day, PM Nguyễn Tấn Dũng had a meeting with the Executive Committee of the Laos-Vietnam Friendship Association, representatives of Vietnamese residents in the Laos DPR and the staff of the Vietnamese embassy in Laos. The PM urged them to work for a new height of the two countries' extraordinary friendliness and cooperation in trade and economic development.

At the invitation of the Lao PM and Thai PM, on December 20, PM Nguyễn Tấn Dũng attended the inauguration of the Friendship Bridge 2 linking Mudahan Province of Thailand with Savanakhet Province of Laos. This is an important event, reflecting the great efforts made by Laos and Thailand  to build with the useful support of the Japanese Government the second bridge across the Mekong River, connecting Northeast Thailand with South Laos and Central Vietnam. The bridge is expected to boost the Laos-Thailand friendly and cooperative ties as well as facilitate transport projects on the East-West Corridor highway./.

By Xuân Hồng