The 11th Vietnam-Laos Foreign Ministerial Political Consultation

The two Ministers assessed the results of cooperation between the two sides in the past time and discussed cooperation directions in the coming time; at the same time, they discussed regional and international issues of mutual concern.

Lao Foreign Minister Thongsavanh Phomvihane speaks at the 11th Political Consultation. (Photo: Xuan Tu/VNA)

At the invitation of Lao Foreign Minister Thongsavanh Phomvihane and implementing the Cooperation Agreement between the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Lao Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son visited Laos and co-chaired the 11th Political Consultation at the Vietnam-Laos Foreign Ministers level from December 16-18.

At the Political Consultation on December 16, in a spirit of special trust, the two Ministers assessed the results of cooperation between the two countries and the two Foreign Ministries in the past time and discussed the direction of cooperation in the coming time; at the same time, they had in-depth discussions on regional and international issues of mutual concern.

Lao Foreign Minister Thongsavanh Phomvihane emphasized that this was the first Consultation with Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son since he was recently appointed as Lao Foreign Minister.

The two sides expressed their delight at the strong development of the Vietnam-Laos cooperative relationship in many areas. Political cooperation continues to be close, trustworthy and increasingly in-depth and substantive. The two sides regularly maintain high-level exchanges and contacts, and bilateral cooperation mechanisms are also being vigorously promoted.

Defense and security cooperation continues to be strengthened and is an important pillar of bilateral relations. Economic, trade and investment cooperation has been enhanced. Bilateral trade turnover reached over 1.7 billion USD in the first 10 months of 2024, an increase of 28.26% over the same period in 2023; in particular, the two sides have resolved a number of difficulties and obstacles in a number of key projects.

Cooperation in the fields of culture, education, science and technology, human resource development, etc. has achieved many important results. Notably, many people-to-people exchange activities have taken place vigorously, contributing positively to enhancing the understanding of the younger generations of the two countries about the great relationship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and Laos.

On that basis, the two sides agreed to continue to closely coordinate to effectively implement the Plan to implement high-level agreements in the fourth quarter of 2024 and 2025, well prepare for the 47th meeting of the Vietnam - Laos Intergovernmental Committee on Bilateral Cooperation in the coming time; further deepen the defense-security pillar; strive to promote and create breakthroughs in economic, trade and investment cooperation.

The two sides assessed that the cooperation between the two Ministries of Foreign Affairs has become increasingly close in recent times. Based on the Cooperation Agreement between the two Ministries of Foreign Affairs for the 2021-2025 period, the two sides regularly maintain annual cooperation mechanisms at the ministerial and deputy ministerial levels and exchange forms between each other's relevant units such as consular affairs, border affairs, industry development, staff training cooperation, press information, multilateral cooperation, including Mekong cooperation, etc.

Based on the Action Program on enhancing economic diplomacy cooperation for the 2020-2025 period, the two sides have also held many direct and online exchanges to discuss economic diplomacy.

On this occasion, leaders of a number of relevant units of the two Ministries of Foreign Affairs exchanged and shared experiences in researching strategic issues, press information, multilateral cooperation, etc. The two Ministers agreed to assign relevant units of the two sides to discuss thoroughly and promptly develop a draft Cooperation Agreement between the two Ministries of Foreign Affairs for the period 2026-2031 and the Action Program for Economic Diplomacy Cooperation for the period 2026-2030.

Lao Foreign Minister Thongsavanh Phomvihane thanked Vietnam for its coordination and active support for Laos to successfully assume the role of Chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA) in 2024; affirmed that Laos will actively coordinate and support Vietnam in successfully organizing the second ASEAN Future Forum (AFF 2) scheduled to be held in early 2025.

The two sides also shared views on international and regional issues of mutual concern, and were pleased with the two countries' regular coordination and mutual support at multilateral forums, especially United Nations agencies as well as on the East Sea issue and the Mekong cooperation framework.

At the end of the Consultation, the two sides agreed to hold the 12th Political Consultation in Vietnam.

Immediately after the 11th Political Consultation, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son presented the noble Orders/Medals of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam to collectives and individuals of the Lao Ministry of Foreign Affairs who have made many contributions to the Vietnam-Laos Solidarity and Friendship Year 2022./.

(Vietnam+)

Source: https://www.vietnamplus.vn/tham-van-chinh-tri-cap-bo-truong-ngoai-giao-viet-nam-lao-lan-thu-11-post1002467.vnp