Enhancing Vietnam-Laos economic cooperation, implementing international integration, facilitating a new wave of investment from Vietnam to Laos, accompanying Laos in fulfilling its responsibility as ASEAN Chair 2024... are important tasks in Vietnam-Laos cooperation, and also the focus of discussion during the New Year visit to Vietnam by Lao Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone and his wife.
At the invitation of Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, Lao Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone and his wife paid an official visit to Vietnam, co-chairing the 46th meeting of the Vietnam-Laos Intergovernmental Committee on Bilateral Cooperation (January 6-7). Vietnamese Ambassador to Laos Nguyen Ba Hung said that the visit brought to the Vietnamese people warm and friendly feelings of brotherhood and comradeship, creating a new impetus to promote relations between the two countries in 2024.
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Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh met with Lao Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone on the occasion of the ASEAN-Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Summit in Saudi Arabia, October 20, 2023. (Source: VNA)
Lao Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone is one of the first foreign leaders to visit Vietnam in 2024. Could you please share the significance of this visit by Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone? Lao Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone's official visit to Vietnam was made in the context that the two countries, although being significantly affected by the complicated developments of the world and regional situation, are still making efforts to focus on implementing the resolutions of each Party and the socio-economic development plans of each country and have achieved important results; Laos is actively preparing for the first activities of the ASEAN Chairmanship Year 2024; the cooperative relationship between Vietnam and Laos is on a very good development path, the Agreements between the two Parties, the Joint Statements during the visits of the two countries' senior leaders, and the Cooperation Agreements between the two Governments are being actively implemented and achieving many important results. In that context, this visit of Lao Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone is of great significance to both countries, especially this is the first official visit to Vietnam by Comrade Sonexay Siphandone in his capacity as Prime Minister of Laos and Comrade Sonexay Siphandone is one of the first foreign leaders to visit Vietnam in 2024, bringing to the Vietnamese people warm and close brotherly and comradely feelings. In addition to continuing to reaffirm the tradition of close ties between the two Parties, the two Governments and the people of Vietnam and Laos, this is also an opportunity for the two sides to share trust in the situation of each country, the world situation, and the region that both sides are interested in; evaluate the results of the comprehensive cooperation relationship between Vietnam and Laos in 2023; discuss the direction of cooperation between the two countries in 2024. With that in mind, I believe that the official visit to Vietnam by Lao Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone will be a great success, creating new impetus to promote the special cooperation relationship between Vietnam and Laos to become more in-depth, substantive and effective in 2024 and the following years. The Intergovernmental Committee on Bilateral Cooperation Meeting (the Meeting) is one of the most important annual cooperation mechanisms between Vietnam and Laos. What are the highlights of the upcoming meeting, Ambassador? For the upcoming 46th Meeting, along with other important areas of cooperation, one content that, in my opinion, the two sides will focus on discussing and agreeing on is measures to elevate Vietnam-Laos cooperation in the economic field to match the good relationship in politics, defense, security and inherent potential of the two countries. This is the consistent direction of the Senior Leaders, the expectation of the departments, ministries, branches, localities, businesses and people of the two countries over the past many years. Another important content, in my opinion, that can also be discussed by the two sides on this occasion is that the two countries need to coordinate in implementing international integration work, especially international economic integration, cultural and tourism cooperation (in the context that 2024 will be a year of many important commemorative events for both countries and each country and is the Lao Tourism Year) to both demonstrate to the world the special solidarity between Vietnam and Laos and bring practical benefits to the people of the two countries. In particular, the two sides will discuss close cooperation when Laos is the Chair of ASEAN 2024 as well as Vietnam's support so that Laos can fulfill its role as Chair. |
The Laos-Vietnam Friendship Hospital in Xiengkhouang province is one of the key projects of the two countries. (Source: VNA)
Vietnam currently has more than 400 FDI projects in Laos. Lao Minister of Planning and Investment, Chairman of the Laos-Vietnam Cooperation Committee Khamjane Vongphosy recently commented that Laos-Vietnam cooperation is at an unprecedented high in the relationship between the two countries. What is your opinion, Ambassador, and what are the key areas of cooperation with great potential? I strongly agree with the opinion of Lao Minister of Planning and Investment Khamjane Vongphosy. It is true that in 2023, the cooperation relationship between the two countries has been pushed to an "unprecedented high" level in all areas from politics - diplomacy, security - defense, and economy. That is reflected in the special attention and strong direction of the two countries' senior leaders in promoting Vietnam-Laos cooperation in the economic field, especially in creating a more favorable business and investment environment for businesses of the two countries. Specifically, in 2023, economic cooperation achieved many good results, including the direction and strong participation of the leaders and governments of the two countries to promote the effective implementation of cooperation agreements and treaties reached at the 45th Session of the Vietnam-Laos Intergovernmental Committee. Vietnamese leaders such as Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue, and Minister of Planning and Investment Nguyen Chi Dung regularly met and encouraged the business communities of the two countries during their visits, coordinating to resolve many long-standing difficulties and obstacles for businesses, improving the investment environment. Some key projects and works have been completed as planned, such as Nongkhang airport in Houaphanh province, Laos - Vietnam Friendship Hospital in Xiengkhuang province, which have been handed over and put into operation since May 2023, creating highlights and being highly appreciated by Lao leaders... A very important highlight that I feel is that currently a new wave of investment from Vietnam to Laos is emerging with many large and capable corporations such as VietJet Air, VinGroup, Viet Phuong, Xuan Thien... along with large, high-quality projects. Regarding key areas of cooperation with great potential in the coming time, in my opinion, in addition to the areas we have been implementing so far such as telecommunications, banking, rubber planting and processing, food production and processing, milk, electric power and mining... the two countries will focus on deepening economic cooperation. Accordingly, the driving force for developing Vietnam-Laos economic cooperation will be economic connections, especially transport infrastructure connections to further promote investment, trade and tourism between the two sides; promote financial connections through promoting cooperation in using local currencies LAK and VND between the two countries; continue to resolve difficulties and obstacles of Vietnamese enterprises investing in Laos... |
Vietnamese Ambassador to Laos Nguyen Ba Hung.
In 2024, Laos will assume the role of ASEAN Chair. How can we accompany you to fulfill this responsibility, Ambassador? Since the Lao PDR officially announced its role as ASEAN Chair in 2024, at the talks, meetings and contacts between the two countries' senior leaders, the two sides agreed to closely coordinate and support each other in ASEAN 2024 in particular and other multilateral forums in general. Promoting the tradition of sharing the sweet and the bitter, "a grain of rice is bitten in half, a vegetable is shared in half", during his official visit to Laos in April 2023, President Vo Van Thuong announced a gift from the Party, State and people of Vietnam worth 1 million USD for the Party, State and people of Laos to contribute to the preparation for the ASEAN Chairmanship Year 2024. In addition, at meetings and exchanges between leaders at all levels, the Vietnamese side always affirmed to continue to accompany and support the Lao side to the maximum extent of its capacity to help Laos successfully assume the position of ASEAN Chairmanship Year 2024. At the same time, we expressed our readiness to cooperate closely with other ASEAN member countries and external partners for the common interests of the region and promote a strong ASEAN community. I believe that, with the close coordination and support of friendly countries, including Vietnam, Laos's ASEAN Chairmanship in 2024 will be a great success as expected, thereby contributing positively to peace, stability and cooperation for development in the region and the world. Thank you, Ambassador!Baoquocte.vn
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