Vice President Dang Thi Ngoc Thinh is welcomed at the Lao Presidential Palace in Vientiane on June 19 (Photo: VNA)

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At the talks after the official welcome ceremony for Vice President Dang Thi Ngoc Thinh, Lao Vice President Phankham Viphavanh highlighted the visit’s significance to the two countries’ relations, noting that the Party, State and people of Laos always keep in mind the enormous assistance Vietnam has given to them throughout history.

Vice President Thinh, who is on her first official visit to Laos from June 19 to 22, reiterated that the Party, State and people of Vietnam always treasure the sincere friendship and mutual support with Laos.

The two sides briefed each other about their respective countries’ security, political and socio-economic situation, stressing that amid numerous challenges in the world and the region, Vietnam and Laos should further intensify their time-tested friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation, which are the priceless asset that needs to be maintained and passed down to future generations.

The vice presidents noted with satisfaction the flourishing cooperation in all aspects, including politics, security, defence, economy, trade, investment, education, culture, and people-to-people exchange. They said the frequent mutual visits by leaders of the countries’ Parties, States, Governments and National Assemblies are a vivid demonstration of the pure, faithful and trustworthy connections between Vietnam and Laos.

Phankham Viphavanh asked for both sides’ coordination to soon build a park named after Vietnam’s late President Ho Chi Minh in the north of Vientiane capital city so as to help educate young people on the great friendship of the countries.

At the talks, they agreed to step up mutual visits at all levels with a focus on their effectiveness along with people-to-people exchange, especially among young people, to reinforce the two nations’ connectivity and create a solid foundation for future generations to foster the traditional relations.

They agreed to bolster security-defence cooperation, including in fighting trans-national crimes and ensuring security and development in the countries’ shared border areas. They also urged better coordination to manage the borderline, reduce irregular migration, and carry out the agreement on the settlement of irregular migrants and undocumented marriages signed by the two Governments in 2013.

The Lao Vice President thanked the Vietnamese Government for creating conditions for the Lao-Vietnam International Port joint Stock Company to build Vung Ang No. 1, 2 and 3 wharves, which are important gateways for the economic development of the northeast of Laos. He also appreciated the Vietnamese sides’ promotion of trade and investment partnership, transport connectivity, investment cooperation projects, and removal of business obstacles.

Valuing the Vietnamese Government’s scholarships for Laos, he asked the two sides to improve collaboration in education-training to meet each country’s human resource demand while strengthening ties in culture, sports, communications, science and technology.

Phankham Viphavanh affirmed that the Lao Government always supports Vietnamese people to settle in the country under Laos’ law. The two sides should coordinate closely to manage and create favourable conditions for Vietnamese to work in conformity with Laos’ law.

The two officials said their countries will continue working closely together and support each other at international and regional forums like the United Nations, ASEAN and the Mekong region’s cooperation mechanisms.

Also on June 19, the Vietnamese Vice President paid courtesy calls to General Secretary of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party and President Bounnhang Vorachith and Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith.

The Lao leaders emphasised that the Party and Government of Laos always attach importance to the enhancement of the countries’ special ties, agreeing to solidify the comprehensive cooperation between the two Parties and Governments.