General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Nguyen Phu Trong greets top Lao leader Thongloun Sisoulith in Hanoi. — VNA/VNS Photo

Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and General Secretary and President Sisoulith witnessed the signing of a series of cooperation agreements between the two nations following their talks on Monday.

Among those signed were agreements on the Vietnam-Laos cooperation strategy for 2021 – 2030 and on bilateral collaboration for 2021-2025.

Numerous pacts between Vietnamese and Lao ministries were inked at the event, including those between the two ministries of planning and investment, and between the Party Central Committee's Office of Vietnam and the LPRP Central Committee's Office for 2021-25.

They also agreed a collaboration plan on culture, art and tourism for 2021-25 between the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Vietnam and the Lao Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism, another cooperation plan between the Ministry of Information and Communications of Vietnam and the Lao Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism, and an agreement between the Party Central Committee's Mass Mobilisation Commission and the Lao Front for National Construction’s Central Committee.

A number of deals were also signed by businesses from both sides of the border.

Sisoulith, his spouse and a high-ranking delegation of the Lao Party and State, began an official visit to Vietnam on Monday.

It is the first overseas trip by the top Lao leader in his capacity as Lao Party General Secretary and President for the 2021 – 2026 term.

The visit aims to implement the consistent foreign policy of Laos and Vietnam and enhance the great friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation of the two countries.

It also offers an opportunity for the two countries to further exchange experience in development and accelerate the effective implementation of bilateral agreements in 2021 and beyond.

The official ceremony at the Presidential Palace in Hanoi on Monday was chaired by President Nguyen Xuan Phuc and his spouse.

Also present at the event were the Party Central Committee’s Secretariat Vo Van Thuong, head of the Party Central Committee’s Commission for Organisation Truong Thi Mai, Vice Chairman of the National Assembly Tran Thanh Man, Minister of National Defence Phan Van Giang, and Minister of Public Security To Lam, among others.  

High-level meetings

Chairman of the National Assembly Vuong Dinh Hue also held a meeting with Lao President Sisoulith in Hanoi, during which Vietnam's top legislator expressed gratitude for Laos' donations sent to Vietnam to help fight the COVID-19 pandemic.

He congratulated Laos for its effort to contain the pandemic as the country has recorded a small number of infections in recent months. 

President Sisoulith said Lao people and the Lao government appreciate Vietnam's support and friendship, especially Vietnam's assistance in the construction of Laos' National Assembly building. 

The two leaders discussed cooperation between the two countries' lawmakers and agreed to increase exchanges of delegations and experience sharing based on a cooperation framework signed in 2017. 

The Lao leader relayed an invitation from the Chairman of Lao National Assembly Saysomphone Phomvihane to his Vietnamese counterpart to visit Laos. 

While in Hanoi, President Sisoulith also met with Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and visited former General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Nong Duc Manh and former President Tran Duc Luong. 

 
Vietnamese, Lao leaders discuss cooperation orientations

Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and Lao Party General Secretary and State President Thongloun Sisoulith discussed cooperation orientations between the two countries in the future during their meeting in Hanoi on June 28.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh (R) meets Lao Party General Secretary and State President Thongloun Sisoulith in Hanoi on Monday. VNA Photo Duong Giang

The two sides agreed to continue their close coordination to effectively realise high-level agreements, outcomes of meetings of the Vietnam-Laos inter-governmental committee as well as cooperation programmes between ministries, agencies and localities.

They will also further provide mutual support in COVID-19 control and socio-economic recovery and development, while coordinating in implementing major joint projects.

The leaders consented to soon build the Laos - Vietnam friendship park in the Lao capital city of Vientiane, and work together to mark the 60th founding anniversary of bilateral diplomatic ties, and 45 years of the signing of the Vietnam - Laos Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in 2022.

The Lao leader lauded Vietnam’s efforts and achievements in COVID-19 containment and socio-economic development, saying it was among a few countries in the world that recorded positive growth last year.

Both leaders rejoiced at the development of the great friendship and special solidarity between the two countries. Two-way trade in the first five months of this year reached US$570.7 million, up nearly 40 per cent year-on-year. Vietnam has 208 valid projects valued at $5.16 billion in the neighbouring country.

They also looked at cooperation between the two countries within multilateral frameworks, especially ASEAN and sub-regional mechanisms.

The leaders shared views on a number of regional and international issues of shared concern, including the East Sea issue and the sustainable and effective use of the Mekong River’s water sources.

They agreed to continue their close coordination and mutual support, for peace, stability and development in the region and the world.

Later the same day, Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, State President Nguyen Xuan Phuc and their spouses hosted a banquet in honour of Lao Party General Secretary and State President Thongloun Sisoulith, his wife and the Lao delegation.

Addressing the banquet, Trong affirmed that Thongloun’s first Vietnam visit in his capacity as Party General Secretary and State President of Laos was an important political event, marking a milestone in the bilateral ties.

The Vietnamese Party, State and people would make every effort together with their Lao counterparts to preserve and promote the special ties in all spheres, for prosperity and happiness of the people of both nations, and for peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region and the world at large.

Thongloun said the great friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between the two Parties, States and people of Laos and Vietnam would be protected, stressing the responsibility of generations of leaders to educate and pass on the tradition to younger generations.

 
Vietnam, Laos seek to further strengthen defence cooperation

The Vietnamese Ministry of National Defence stands ready to send more experts and medical supplies to help Laos in the COVID-19 fight when requested by its Lao counterpart, Minister of National Defence Sen. Lieut. Gen. Phan Van Giang said on June 28.

At the meeting. (Photo: VNA)

During his meeting with Lao Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defence Gen. Chansamone Chanyalath, Giang said the fight against COVID-19 is expected to continue developing complicatedly and suggested the two sides provide more mutual support to soon push back the pandemic.

Giang thanked the Lao Ministry of National Defence for its assistance to its Vietnamese counterpart in COVID-19 prevention and control.

Chansamone stressed that the Vietnamese and Lao Parties, States, armies and people always give wholehearted sentiments and support to each other in any circumstances.

He also thanked the Vietnamese ministry for its aid to Laos during the pandemic combat.

They agreed to make preparations for cooperative activities in the time ahead, including the exchange of delegations at all levels, and joint activities between the two armies.

The two countries’ competent forces in border areas will continue their close coordination to contribute to preventing the spread of the pandemic as well as cross-border crime, they said.

Later the same day, Gen. Chansamone Chanyalath met with former Vietnamese Minister of National Defence Gen. Ngo Xuan Lich, during which the Lao official said the two armies have agreed to maintain their close cooperation to deserve the trust of the Vietnamese and Lao Parties and people.

Source: VNA/VNS

Welcome ceremony held for top Lao leader Thongloun Sisoulith

General Secretary of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party (LPRP) Central Committee and President of Laos Thongloun Sisoulith, his spouse and a Lao Party and State high-level delegation were welcomed to Vietnam