PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc and his entourages arrived at Wattay International Airport in Vientiane, Laos on February 4. (Photo: VGP)

The visit, made at the invitation of Lao Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith, is considered an important political event, demonstrating a reaffirmation of the priorities in foreign affairs between both countries. Of main importance is the sustained consolidation and development of the Vietnam-Laos traditional friendship, with special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation while enhancing political credibility and creating a unified steering channel to promote the implementation of high-level agreements in strengthening the cooperation between the two nations.

As close neighbours and friends, the traditional friendship, solidarity, and comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and Laos have been perennially nurtured by successive generations of leaders and people of the two countries such that they have become a common property of the two nations; an important factor to ensure the success of the cause of national construction and defence in each country, contributing to peace, stability, cooperation, and development in the region and around the world.

The Vietnamese people sincerely congratulate the significant achievements of the Lao Party, State, and people in past years. In 2016, Laos successfully organised the 10th Congress of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party and the 10th National Congress of the Lao Front for National Construction. The Lao economy continues to report a positive growth rate with the average rate of annual GDP growth at about 7% in recent years.

The solid, trusting, loyal, and transparent relations between Vietnam and Laos have been increasingly developed and promoted in an effective and substantive manner in all fields. The two sides maintain sound bilateral cooperation mechanisms, such as the Inter-Governmental Committee on Bilateral Cooperation, and regularly exchange delegations at all levels.

The two sides completed the project to expand and rejuvenate the Vietnam-Laos border marker system and agreed a protocol on the Vietnam-Laos border line and border markers, as well as on the border and border gate management. Cooperation on trade, investment, education-training, transportation, culture, and healthcare are all accelerated.

In the Vietnam-Laos Solidarity Year 2017, the two sides held a range of cooperative activities and exchanges, affirming the meaning of the traditional friendship, special solidarity, and comprehensive cooperation between the two.

Vietnam and Laos have worked closely together and supported each other in regional and international forums, while they continue to strengthen cooperation with other ASEAN member states to build a robust ASEAN Community and maintain ASEAN unity on regional strategic issues.

The 40th meeting of the Vietnam-Laos Inter-Governmental Committee to be held in Vientiane is the inter-governmental committee’s second meeting to be co-chaired by the two PMs. It aims to promote cooperation between the two countries in a more in-depth, practical, and effective manner. At the meeting, the two sides will assess the implementation of the agreement on the Vietnam-Laos Cooperation Plan in 2017, exchange on directions and tasks for cooperation in 2018, and sign cooperation documents between the two countries.

May the visit to Laos by PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc be a success in once again contributing to the strong and stable trust forged between the two countries' senior leaders and foster the ever-green and ever-sustainable traditional friendship and solidarity between Vietnam and Laos, which meets the interests of both peoples, and promotes the values of peace, stability, cooperation, and development in the region and to the whole world.

                                            Source: NDO