Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh arrives in Vientiane to attend the 47th meeting of the Vietnam-Laos Intergovernmental Committee on Bilateral Cooperation

NDO - At exactly 8:00 a.m. on January 9, the plane carrying Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and the Vietnamese high-ranking delegation landed at Wattay International Airport, Vientiane, starting a visit to Laos and co-chairing the 47th meeting of the Vietnam-Laos Intergovernmental Committee on Bilateral Cooperation on January 9 and 10 at the invitation of Lao Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone.

Welcoming Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and the high-ranking Vietnamese delegation at the airport on the Lao side were: Minister, Head of the Lao Prime Minister's Office Buakhong Nammavong; Deputy Foreign Minister Phonsavan Sisoulath; leaders of the capital Vientiane, Lao Ambassador to Vietnam Khamphao Ernthavanh, officials of the Lao Ministry of Foreign Affairs...; on the Vietnamese side were Vietnamese Ambassador to Laos Nguyen Minh Tam, Vietnamese representative agencies, officials and staff of the Embassy.

Welcoming the Prime Minister at Wattay International Airport were Lao Minister and Head of the Prime Minister's Office Buakhong Nammavong; Lao Deputy Foreign Minister Phonsavan Sisoulath; leaders of the capital Vientiane, Lao Ambassador to Vietnam Khamphao Ernthavanh . (Photo: VGP/Nhat Bac)

Currently, the Vietnam-Laos political and diplomatic relations continue to develop well, closely and with trust; the two sides have successfully organized the 46th Meeting of the Vietnam-Laos Intergovernmental Committee (January 7, 2024) and the Annual Meeting of the two Parties in 2024 (February 26, 2024); actively organized visits by high-ranking leaders at all levels. Defense-security cooperation continues to be enhanced in both quality and quantity.

The two sides actively implemented agreements and cooperation plans in the fields of defense and security; coordinated in immigration management, illegal migration and residence issues; and cracked down on and suppressed cross-border crimes, especially drug crimes and human trafficking.

Currently, the two sides are studying to sign an extradition agreement between the Socialist Republic of Vietnam and the Lao People's Democratic Republic.

Ceremony to welcome Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh at Wattay International Airport. (Photo: VGP/Nhat Bac)

Economic, trade and investment cooperation continued to have positive changes. The two sides signed the “Memorandum of Understanding on the Development and Connection of Vietnam-Laos Border Trade Infrastructure”, the Vietnam-Laos Trade Agreement; effectively implemented the Vietnam-Laos Border Trade Agreement to create the most favorable conditions for businesses and people of the two countries.

Vietnam currently has 241 investment projects in Laos with a total registered capital of more than 5.5 billion USD, continuing to maintain the 3rd position among countries/territories (after China and Thailand). Vietnam-Laos trade turnover in the first 10 months of 2024 reached 1.7 billion USD (up 28.2% over the same period in 2023). However, there are still a number of projects that are stuck and have been stalled for many years.

Officials and staff of the Vietnamese Embassy in Laos welcomed the Prime Minister and the Vietnamese delegation. (Photo: VGP/Nhat Bac)

Education, training and cultural cooperation continues to receive attention, actively implementing the Vietnam-Laos Education Cooperation Project for the period 2021-2030, the Protocol on Vietnam-Laos Training Cooperation for the period 2022-2027; the Cultural-Arts and Tourism Cooperation Plan for the period 2021-2025 and supporting Laos in building the Lao Sports Development Strategy for the period 2023-2030. Currently, there are about 14,050 Lao students studying at more than 170 Vietnamese educational institutions.

Cooperation between localities, especially those sharing a common border, continues to be strengthened, becoming more specific, in-depth, and comprehensive in all areas, ensuring security, order, and safety in the border areas of the two countries. However, the situation of Vietnamese people in border localities going to Laos to work illegally, being deceived, being held for ransom, and violating the law in Laos remains complicated.

Children present the Prime Minister with a bouquet of fresh flowers. (Photo: VGP/Nhat Bac)

International, regional and sub-regional cooperation: The two sides closely coordinate and support each other at regional and international cooperation forums; especially within the framework of ASEAN, the United Nations and sub-regional mechanisms. In 2024, Vietnam actively supported and assisted Laos in successfully assuming important international roles such as ASEAN Chair 2024 and AIPA 45 Chair.

Source: https://nhandan.vn/thu-tuong-pham-minh-chinh-toi-vientiane-tham-du-ky-hop-lan-thu-47-uy-ban-lien-chinh-phu-ve-hop-tac-song-phuong-viet-nam-lao-post855067.html