Lao newspapers spotlight Lao PM’s official visit to Vietnam

On January 10 and 11, Lao newspapers published a number of articles, reportages and photos covering the official visit to Vietnam of Lao Prime Minister Phankham Viphavanh and a high-ranking delegation of the Lao Government.

Lao newspapers spotlight Lao PM’s official visit to Vietnam (Photo: NDO/Duy Toan)
Lao newspapers spotlight Lao PM’s official visit to Vietnam (Photo: NDO/Duy Toan)

The front pages of Pasaxon (People's) Newspaper - the organ of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party (LPRP) - and Pathetlao Daily ran articles entitled ‘Lao Prime Minister visits Vietnam’, ‘Launching of the Vietnam - Laos, Laos - Vietnam Solidarity and Friendship Year’, and ‘44th meeting of the Vietnam – Laos Inter-Governmental Committee’.

According to the newspapers, the visit, which took pace from January 8-10 at the invitation of Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, aimed to strengthen great friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between Laos and Vietnam.

The articles quoted the Lao Prime Minister’s thanks for the warm and solemn welcome of the Vietnamese Government and people during his first visit as Prime Minister of Laos.

The Lao Government leader also highly appreciated and congratulated comprehensive and historically significant achievements that the Vietnamese people have gained under the sound and clear-sighted leadership of the Communist Party of Vietnam in recent years as the country’s political situation remains stable, national economy continues to grow, people's livelihoods have been improved, and Vietnam's position and role have been strengthened in regional and international forums.

The articles reported that during their talks, the Vietnamese and Lao PMs reviewed the outcomes of bilateral cooperation and the implementation of cooperation projects and agreements in all fields in recent years, and then set out the directions for cooperation in the coming time.

On behalf of Lao Party, Government and people, PM Phankham Viphavanh thanked the Vietnamese Party, State, and people for their precious and effective assistance to Laos during the struggle for national liberation in the past, along with the national development and defence at present, particularly the funding of new 111-million-USD National Assembly Building in Vientiane.

He also treasured Vietnam’s prompt and valuable support for Laos in containing COVID-19 pandemic. On the occasion of the visit, the Vietnamese Government presented Laos with 1 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine.

The two sides agreed to work closely to organise the Vietnam - Laos, Laos - Vietnam Solidarity and Friendship Year, the 60th anniversary of the bilateral diplomatic ties, and the 45th anniversary of the signing of the Vietnam-Laos Treaty of Amity and Cooperation.

Following their talks, the two PMs witnessed the ceremony for the signing and exchange of eight cooperation documents in the fields of security, border, economy, banking, education, healthcare, and electricity.

The articles also covered the Lao PM’s activities during the visit, including paying a courtesy call to Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, meeting President Nguyen Xuan Phuc and National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue, paying floral tribute to President Ho Chi Minh at his mausoleum and laying a wreath at a monument to war heroes and martyrs, launching the Year of Vietnam – Laos Solidarity and Friendship, co-chairing the 44th meeting of the Vietnam – Laos Inter-Governmental Committee on Bilateral Cooperation, and meeting with businesses from the two countries.

* On January 11, Pasaxon Newspaper published an article about the outcomes of the 44th meeting of the Vietnam – Laos Inter-Governmental Committee, which took place in Hanoi under the co-chair of the two PMs.

At the meeting, the two sides consented to focus on implementing joint statements and agreements reached by leaders of the two counties, striving to increase the bilateral trade value by 10-15 percent.

The two leaders witnessed the signing and exchange of nine cooperation documents between the two countries' Governments, ministries, agencies and localities.

Chairmen of the Vietnam-Laos and Laos-Vietnam Cooperation Committees also exchanged commitments between three Vietnamese and Lao shareholders regarding an increase of the Lao Government’s stake in the Lao-Viet International Port JSC from 20 percent to 60 percent.