Vietnam-Laos foreign ministerial-level consultation held in Quang Ninh

The sixth Vietnam-Laos foreign ministerial-level consultation was held in Ha Long City, the northern province of Quang Ninh on December 25.

At the sixth Vietnam-Laos foreign ministerial-level consultation (Photo: VGP)
At the sixth Vietnam-Laos foreign ministerial-level consultation (Photo: VGP)

The annual event was attended by Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh and his Lao counterpart Saleumxay Kommasith.

At the consultation, in the spirit of the mutual special trust, the two ministers exchanged in depth and substantially, focusing on reviewing the cooperation over the past years and set out new directions for the relations between the two countries and the two ministries in the coming time.

Both sides expressed their delight at the development of bilateral ties, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and Laos in all fields, including politics, security and defence, economy, education and training.

The two Ministers agreed that 2020 will be a crucial year for both Vietnam and Laos as the two countries will assume many important roles as well as prepare for the National Party Congress in each nation in 2021.

Deputy PM Pham Binh Minh noted that the two ministries should be more active and proactive in developing the Vietnam – Laos relationship into a deeper and more practical manner in the context of many complex changes in the region and the world.

He also emphasised the necessity for further improvement of the consultations’ quality as well as the diversification and renovation of exchanges between agencies under the two countries’ foreign ministries.

Lao FM Saleumxay Kommasith agreed that the two ministries should coordinate closely to enhance the effective implementation of high-level agreements and important bilateral cooperation mechanisms, immediately the 42nd meeting of the Laos-Vietnam Intergovernmental Committee in January 2020; while strengthening consultation at regional and international forums, especially within the framework of ASEAN and the United Nations.

The Minister asked the two foreign ministries to boost meaningful exchanges, mutual consultations and coordination in both bilateral ties and regional strategic issues to serve the economic development and international integration of the two nations. He also stressed the signing of new cooperation agreement for 2021-2026 between the two ministries at the political consultation next year.

FM Saleumxay Kommasith affirmed that during the time Vietnam assuming the roles of a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) for the 2020-2021 term and the ASEAN Chairmanship for 2020, Laos will strongly support the country.

The two countries will continue to cooperate at Mekong sub-regional cooperation mechanisms, including CLMV and ACMECS; as well as support ASEAN's common stance on common security issues.

Vietnamese and Lao ministers appreciated the cooperation between the two foreign ministries on the basis of agreements made for the 2014-2020 period and other annual cooperation mechanisms and exchanges.

They also informed each other of the foreign policies of each country, while sharing their views on regional and international issues of common interest.

On the occasion, Vietnamese FM Pham Binh Minh and his Lao counterpart Saleumxay Kommasith signed an action plan on the cooperation between the two ministries, focusing on further enhancing the economic diplomacy during 2020-2025.

The signing ceremony of an action plan on economic diplomacy between the two ministries (Photo: VGP)