Strengthening and consolidating the special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and Laos

On July 5, at the Government Headquarters, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh warmly received Mr. Saleumxay Kommasith, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Lao People's Democratic Republic, who is visiting and working in Vietnam.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh received Mr. Saleumxay Kommasith, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Lao People's Democratic Republic.

At the reception, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh welcomed Comrade Saleumxay Kommasith and the Lao Government delegation to visit Vietnam in their role as Head of the Central Steering Committee for Trade and Transport Facilitation of Laos and believed that the visit and work will be successful, continuing to make an important contribution to the continuous enhancement and consolidation of the great friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and Laos.

The Prime Minister expressed his belief that under the wise leadership of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party and the resolute and close management of the Government, the Lao people and country will successfully implement the Resolution of the 11th Congress of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party and the 9th Five-Year Socio-Economic Development Plan. Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh conveyed his regards and best wishes to General Secretary and President Thongloun Sisoulith, Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone and other senior leaders of Laos; at the same time, he requested the two countries' Foreign Ministries to continue to closely coordinate to best prepare for the exchange of high-level delegations in the coming time.

Thanking the Prime Minister for taking the time to receive him, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Laos Saleumxay Kommasith respectfully conveyed the regards and best wishes of health from General Secretary and President Thongloun Sisoulith, Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone and other senior Lao leaders to General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, President To Lam and other senior Vietnamese leaders; thanking the Prime Minister for his sincere sentiments, Vietnam's sincere and selfless support and assistance to Laos in the past time as well as the close cooperation and effective support of Vietnamese government agencies and people for the current cause of national defense and construction.

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Saleumxay Kommasith thanked the Vietnamese Government for always attaching importance to and giving the highest priority to nurturing the special relationship. Vietnam-Laos; affirmed that the Lao Party, State and people will continue to work with the Vietnamese Party, State and people to foster and preserve the great friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and Laos.

* Previously, Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang held talks with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Laos Saleumxay Kommasith and the inter-ministerial and sectoral delegation of the Lao Government.

At the meeting, Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang welcomed the working visit of the Lao Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister; saying that the visit is a good opportunity for the two sides to discuss specific measures to implement the instructions of the two countries' senior leaders and the results of the 46th Meeting of the Vietnam-Laos Intergovernmental Committee on Bilateral Cooperation co-chaired by the two countries' Prime Ministers. On this occasion, Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang congratulated Laos on its successful performance as ASEAN Chair 2024 and affirmed that Vietnam will continue to support and assist Laos in successfully assuming important international roles in 2024.

The two Deputy Prime Ministers expressed their delight at the important achievements in cooperation in recent times, especially the close coordination between the two countries, increased delegation exchanges, high-level contacts and bilateral cooperation mechanisms. Defense and security cooperation continues to be an important pillar in the cooperative relationship; two-way trade in the first 5 months of 2024 reached 780 million USD, up 11% over the same period in 2023; Vietnam currently has 255 valid projects in Laos with a total investment capital of about 5.5 billion USD, which are increasingly effective.

The two sides agreed that in the context of complicated developments in the world and the region, it is necessary to continue to promote the pillars of cooperation; determined to focus on removing obstacles, completely resolving some backlogs and promoting the implementation of key projects such as Vung Ang 1, 2, 3 ports; road and railway connection projects, while continuing to expand and improve the effectiveness of cooperation in education-training, culture and people-to-people exchange between the two countries.

Discussing international and regional issues of mutual concern, the two sides agreed that in the context of the current rapid and complicated developments in the world and region, the two sides need to increase information sharing and exchange, coordination and close cooperation at regional and international forums.

On this occasion, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Saleumxay Kommasith and the working delegation also had a working session and practical and trustworthy exchange with Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son and Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien.

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