Laos,Vietnam look to stronger ties

During their talks in Laos on April 26, both leaders expressed their pleasure over the flourishing relationship between the two countries and concurred to boost people-to-people exchanges and jointly organize the 55th anniversary of establishment of bilateral diplomatic ties and the 40th anniversary of the signing of the Vietnam-Lao Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation in a practical and effective way. 

They consented to implement more effectively high-level agreements, especially the Joint Statement issued on the official visit to Laos by Vietnam’s Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong in November 2016 and the Joint Statement released on the visit to Vietnam by Laos’ Party General Secretary and President Bounnhang Volachith in April 2016.

Both sides pledged to build on the outcomes gained at the 39th meeting of the Vietnam-Laos Intergovernmental Committee on bilateral cooperation and do their best to carry out the Vietnam-Laos bilateral cooperation agreement in 2016-2020.

They reiterated their resolve to increase two-way trade value in 2017 by 10 % against 2016 and enhance connectivity between the two economies, particularly in energy and transport.

Both leaders pledged to carry out efficiently signed agreements, particularly the protocol on cooperation in defence and security in 2016-2020, the protocol on border line and national border markers, the agreement on border and border gate management regulations, the Memorandum of Understanding on bilateral transport cooperation strategy in 2016-2025 with a vision towards 2030, and the agreement on building Vientiane-Pacxan-Thanh Thuy-Hanoi highway.

They agreed to intensify coordination at regional and international forums such as the United Nations (UN), the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), and sub-regional cooperation mechanisms, as well as support each other’s initiatives and activities within the framework of ASEAN.

The two PMs vowed to bolster cooperation with each other and with other countries and international organisations for the sustainable and effective use and management of water resources in the Mekong River on the basis of ensuring the harmony in benefits of countries in the Mekong basin, especially those downstream. They underlined the need to build mechanisms for bilateral coordination and coordination with other stakeholders to assess and monitor the impacts of the use of river water resources.

They reiterated the importance of maintaining peace and stability, ensuring security, safety, and freedom of navigation and overflight in the East Sea, as well as settling disputes by peaceful means on the basis of international law, including the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

After the talk, the two PMs had a press conference, where Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc underscored the importance of his visit to Laos.

“We have had a successful talk with Lao Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith. We discussed detailed measures to implement guidelines set by the two Parties and States and signed nine agreements to pave the way for fulfilling our plans. 

We also pledged to improve the operation of the Inter-governmental Committee and make the Vietnam-Lao cooperation more practical and effective, contributing to the development of the two countries," Phuc said.