PM’s visit to Laos strengthen development links
Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung is scheduled to arrive in Laos on March 12 to begin a three-day visit and chair the seventh Cambodia-Laos-Vietnam Development Triangle Summit (CLV7).
The trip is being made at the invitation of his Lao counterpart Thongsing Thammavong.
He will attend the 6th Cambodia-Laos-Myanmar-Vietnam Summit (CLMV 6), the 5th Ayeyawadi-Chao Phraya-Mekong Economic Cooperation Strategy Summit (ACMECS 5) and the talks between ACMEC leaders and business representatives.
PM Dung will also chair the 7th Cambodia-Laos-Vietnam Development Triangle Summit (CLV 7) and visit some northern provinces of Laos.
Held every two years, the CLV 7 will start on March 12 with the participation of the Prime Ministers of the three countries as well as leaders of relevant ministries, sectors and localities.
The CLV 7 is held at a time when bilateral ties between Vietnam and Laos, and Vietnam and Cambodia have strengthened and developed in the spirit of solidarity, friendship and comprehensive cooperation.
Cooperation among the 13 provinces in the development triangle has yielded encouraging results, especially in the implementation of the socio-economic development master plan until 2020, which was adopted in 2010. The localities maintained high economic growth, with their economic structures shifting towards more promising fields. Infrastructure has improved and positive economic, trade and education achievements have been made.
The event will review the implementation of agreements reached at CLV 6, and define the directions to promote future cooperation among the three countries. The three PMs will also adopt a joint statement.
The CLMV 6, which will also get underway on March 12, will examine the implementation of the 2011–2012 action plan, and discuss specific areas of cooperation and orientations to increase links among countries.
The ACMECS 5, to be held on March 13, will look at the implementation of the Phnom Penh Declaration and the 2010–2012 ACMECS action plan, cooperation in eight priority fields, and orientations for future cooperation including the 2013–2015 action plan.
Cooperation in the Mekong region is growing. Despite challenges, the cooperation mechanisms of CLMV and ACMECS have yielded some success, especially in the hosting of regional trade fairs and exhibitions. Cooperation has boosted tourism and facilitated trade among countries through building a one-stop service system and one-door customs at international border gates.
Vietnam has taken part in cooperation activities under these mechanisms, played a leading role in devising annual action plans, and put forward initiatives for more efficient cooperation.
Meanwhile, Dung’s visit to Laos’ northern provinces aims to tighten the Vietnam–Laos friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation by discussing measures to enhance links and investment and sharing experiences in local socio-economic development.
The two countries are actively implementing the economic, cultural and science-technology cooperation strategy for the 2011–2020 period, the 2011-2015 agreement on economic, cultural and science-technology cooperation between the two Governments, and the Vietnam–Laos cooperation strategy in the Lao provinces of Houaphan and Xieng Khouang.
Vietnam’s investment in Laos has surged with 440 projects worth US$5.38 billion, making it one of the largest investors in the country. Two-way trade hit nearly US$900 million last year and is expected to reach US$2 billion by 2015.