Vietnam-Laos ties crucial to each country’s development

NDO/ VNA – The stability and development of Vietnam and Laos as well as their special relationship is a critical and irreplaceable factor to each country’s national construction and protection.

Party General Secretary and President of Laos Bounnhang Vorachith (R) welcomes Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong before their talks in Vientiane on November 24 (Photo: VNA)
Party General Secretary and President of Laos Bounnhang Vorachith (R) welcomes Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong before their talks in Vientiane on November 24 (Photo: VNA)

The view was shared by Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and Party General Secretary and President of Laos Bounnhang Vorachith during their talks in Vientiane on November 24, following a welcoming ceremony for the Vietnamese Party leader.

The two Party General Secretaries underlined the importance of Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong’s official visit to Laos which is taking place after the two Parties successfully organised their national congresses earlier in 2016 and commenced a new tenure. They believed that the visit will help deepen the Vietnamese-Lao friendship, special unity and comprehensive cooperation, thereby meeting the two peoples’ aspirations and ensuring peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region and around the world.

They informed each other about the situation of their respective Parties and countries, and the implementation of the resolutions of the Parties’ congresses.

The Lao Party General Secretary congratulated Vietnam on its enormous achievements during the three decades of reforms, voicing his belief that the country will reap even greater attainments. He also offered his sympathy to Vietnamese people, especially those in the central region, on the recent damages caused by natural disasters.

For his part, General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong also congratulated Laos on their reform accomplishments and wished the country further success in national development.

The two leaders rejoiced at the increasingly substantive relations in all spheres between the two Parties and countries, reiterating their strong support for each nation’s reform and national development and protection.

They agreed to enhance political connections by maintaining meetings between their Party and country leaders, sharing theoretical research and experience in strengthening the Party and enhancing the capacity of officials. The two sides will coordinate to successfully organise activities marking significant anniversaries in 2017 so as to educate younger generations on the Vietnam-Laos special unity.

They also stressed the need for stronger defence-security cooperation and economic connectivity, especially in terms of institutions, transport infrastructure, energy and tourism. Vietnam and Laos will expeditiously fine-tune mechanisms and policies while tackling obstacles to facilitate economic partnerships.

They will also improve the effectiveness of bilateral collaboration in education, training and human resources development, while closely supervising and pushing forward the execution of high-level agreements and cooperation programmes and projects between the two Parties and countries.

The two leaders agreed to strengthen coordination at international and regional forums, particularly the United Nations, ASEAN and cooperation mechanisms in the Greater Mekong Sub-region.

Vietnam and Laos will also work together to manage and effectively use water resources of the Mekong River in order to ensure the harmony of interests among the Mekong nations and the region’s sustainable development, they said.

Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong highly valued Laos’ clear expression of its viewpoint on the East Sea issue as the ASEAN Chair in 2016.

The two leaders underscored the importance of maintaining peace, stability, security and safety in the East Sea. They agreed to boost ASEAN unity regarding the East Sea problem while pushing for the peaceful settlement of disputes on the basis of international law, including the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, the full and effective implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea, and efforts towards soon finalising a Code of Conduct in the waters.

The Vietnamese Party leader invited Lao Party General Secretary Bounnhang Vorachith to visit Vietnam in the near future, to which the latter thanked and accepted the invitation.