Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh works with Lao Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and Lao Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone.

On the afternoon of April 22, 2024, at the Government Headquarters, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh had a working meeting with Prime Minister of the Lao People's Democratic Republic Sonexay Siphandone on the occasion of attending the ASEAN Future Forum in Hanoi.

At the meeting, in an atmosphere of comradeship and brotherhood, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh congratulated Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone on the occasion of the Lao New Year Bun Pi May and thanked the Lao Prime Minister for accepting the invitation to attend and speak at the ASEAN Future Forum. On this occasion, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh respectfully conveyed the warm regards of General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and senior leaders of Vietnam to Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone and senior leaders of Laos.

Congratulating the great achievements of the Lao Party, State and People in the cause of national construction and development, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh expressed his belief that under the wise leadership of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party, Laos will overcome all difficulties, successfully implement the Resolution of the 11th Congress of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party and the 9th Five-Year Socio-Economic Development Plan, contributing to improving people's lives as well as the role and position of Laos in the region and in the international arena.

Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone expressed his pleasure to meet Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh again; congratulated the impressive achievements in socio-economic development, national defense - security, and foreign affairs that the Party and State of Vietnam have achieved in recent times; emphasized that Laos always pays close attention and considers Vietnam's achievements as a great source of encouragement and motivation for Laos' cause of national construction and development. On this occasion, Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone conveyed the greetings of Lao high-ranking leaders to General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and Vietnamese high-ranking leaders.

Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone thanked Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh for inviting him to attend the ASEAN Future Forum; welcomed and appreciated Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh's idea of organizing the Forum in 2024 when Laos is assuming the ASEAN Chair; and said that the Forum is a very meaningful event with the participation and contributions of representatives of governments, scholars and researchers in the region and the world, while demonstrating Vietnam's proactive and practical contributions to the ASEAN Community in the new context, helping to enhance Vietnam's role and position in the region and the world.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh works with Lao Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone.

Discussing bilateral relations, the two Prime Ministers agreed that the great friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and Laos have continued to develop well, firmly and effectively in all fields over the past time. Political relations have been continuously consolidated and promoted towards increasing trust and closeness through the regular exchange of visits and meetings at high and all levels. Defense and security cooperation continues to be important pillars, increasingly close and effective, contributing to ensuring defense, security and social order and safety in each country. Economic, trade and investment cooperation continues to be promoted and has many positive changes. Bilateral trade in the first quarter of 2024 reached 476.8 million USD, up 12% over the same period in 2023. Vietnam currently has 245 investment projects in Laos with a total registered capital of 5.5 billion USD, continuing to maintain its 3rd position among countries/territories investing in Laos. Cooperation in other fields such as education - training, culture, science and technology, tourism and people-to-people exchange... continues to be promoted towards improving efficiency and quality.

On this occasion, the two Prime Ministers discussed specific measures to effectively implement high-level agreements and the results of the 46th Session of the Vietnam-Laos Intergovernmental Committee. The two sides agreed to continue to increase the exchange of high-level visits and contacts; effectively implement agreements between the two governments, including the Vietnam-Laos Cooperation Strategy Agreement for the 2021-2030 period, the Agreement on Vietnam-Laos Bilateral Cooperation for the 2021-2025 period and the Agreement on the Vietnam-Laos Cooperation Plan 2024; and strengthen defense and security cooperation to effectively deal with non-traditional challenges, including border management and protection and transnational crime prevention.

To improve the effectiveness of cooperation in the coming time, the two Prime Ministers agreed on the need to strengthen the connection between the two economies, especially in terms of institutions, finance, transport infrastructure, energy, telecommunications, and tourism; support each other in building an independent and self-reliant economy, associated with proactive and active international integration, in a deep, substantive and effective manner; coordinate to review and resolve difficulties, creating a favorable environment for Vietnamese enterprises to feel secure in investing and doing business in Laos; effectively implement the Protocols and Cooperation Projects in the fields of education and human resource development.

The two Prime Ministers agreed to continue to closely coordinate and support each other at regional and international forums such as ASEAN, the United Nations and the Mekong sub-region mechanisms. Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh affirmed that Vietnam will continue to support and assist Laos in successfully assuming its international responsibilities in 2024, including the role of ASEAN Chair./.

Source dangcongsan

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