Viet Nam, Laos issue Joint Statement

The two Prime Ministers and their Spouses walks from the Presidential Palace to the Headquarters of the Government Office for bilateral talks. Photo: VGP

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1. At the invitation of H.E. Nguyen Xuan Phuc, Prime Minister of the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam, H.E. Thongloun Sisoulith, Prime Minister of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic pays an official visit to Viet Nam from October 1-3, 2019.

During the visit, Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith attended the official welcome ceremony and held talks with Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc; made courtesy call on Party General Secretary and State President Nguyen Phu Trong; met with Chairwoman of the National Assembly Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan; laid wreaths at President Ho Chi Minh’ Mausoleum and the Monument for Heroic Martyrs; visited some economic and cultural establishments in Da Nang City. On the occasion, the two Prime Ministers witnessed the signing ceremony of eight cooperative documents.

2. In a friendly atmosphere, senior leaders of the two countries briefed each other about recent socio-economic development and diplomatic work in respective countries; discussed frankly and extensively on orientations and measures to consolidate and enhance the great friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between Viet Nam and Laos in the future. Both sides affirmed to continue working side by side to support each other throughout the causes of national protection and development in respective countries at both bilateral and multilateral aspects.

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The Vietnamese leaders congratulated on the achievements gained by the Party, Government and people of Laos over the past time under the leadership of the Lao Revolutionary Party, especially in sustaining stable growth and consolidating national defense and security, overcoming the consequences of natural disasters and promoting the cultural identities; extended thanks to the Party, Government and people of Laos for having offered valuable assistance to Viet Nam to overcome consequences caused by recent floods.

Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith highly valued the achievements gained by the Party, Government and people of Viet Nam over the past time under the leadership of the Communist Party of Viet Nam, as evidenced by socio-economic and scientific and technological progress as well as rising global status; extended thanks for Viet Nam’s valuable support and assistance, especially urgent aid for Laos to overcome consequences of natural disasters, over the past many years.

 3. In the face of numerous developments and challenges in the region and the world, the two sides affirmed the vital importance of the Viet Nam-Laos great friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation, regarding it as the invariable principle and the motive for the existence and development of the revolutionary causes in each country, in which next generations should bear the responsibility to stand shoulder to should to preserve and nurture this especially faithful relationship rarely found in international relations and elevate it to new heights to bring about practical benefits to the two nations.

4. On such basis, the two sides agreed to continue maintaining the exchange of delegations and contacts at all levels and on various channels in an effective and practical manner, with a focus on sharing experiences and seeking measures to remove barriers in bilateral cooperation; regularly review and focus on the implementation of the high-level agreements reached, especially the outcomes of the official visit to Laos by Party General Secretary and State President Nguyen Phu Trong (February 2019) and the outcomes of the 41^st meeting of the Viet Nam-Laos Inter-Government Committee (February 2019); consolidate and strengthen the effectiveness of all the cooperative mechanisms. The two sides agreed to continue encouraging their ministries, Party organs, sectors and localities to expand direct cooperation, timely support each other in socio-economic development, firmly maintain security, stability and order while promptly settling emerging issues on the basis of friendship and solidarity.

5. Both sides once again reaffirmed the importance of close defense and security  cooperation, striving to become the mainstay of each other in coping with security and defense challenges which are becoming increasingly diverse and complicated; agreed to coordinate in deploying bilateral border treaties and agreements. The two sides agreed to soon convene a conference to evaluate the effectiveness of the one-stop single-window mechanism deployed at the Lao Bao (Viet Nam) – Densavan (Laos) International Border Gate; organize a conference to evaluate the Agreement between the Governments of Viet Nam and Laos regarding the settlement of free migration and unregistered marriage along the shared border areas (signed on July 8, 2013) in the fourth quarter of 2019. The two sides agreed to continue facilitating Vietnamese community in Laos and Lao community in Viet Nam to live and work in accordance with laws of each country and international practices. The two sides agreed to organize activities marking the 70^th traditional day of the Vietnamese soldiers and experts (October 30, 1949-October 30, 2019) to honor their scarification and contribute to educating the next generations about the special solidarity between the two nations.

6. Both sides agreed continue accelerating and improving the effectiveness of economic, cultural, scientific and technological cooperation through promoting the strengths and potentials of respective countries; foster the implementation of the agreements between the two sides’ senior leaders and cooperative plans between the two Governments; pay attention to organizing the implementation of Viet Nam’s investment projects in Laos as well as Laos’projects in Viet Nam and other bilateral projects, especially the Agreement between the Governments of Viet Nam and Laos on cooperation in construction of hydro power projects in Laos, power grid connectivity and power purchase inked on October 5, 2016.

The two sides spoke highly of the positive developments in bilateral trade over the past time; agreed to work together to further expand and improve the trade ties, striving to increase trade exchanges by 10-15% annually; expand and diversify trade promotion activities; beef up the development and signing of Memorandum of Understanding/Agreement on border trade infrastructure connectivity. Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith agreed to soon convene the second dialogue with Vietnamese businesses in Laos in 2019.

7. The two sides affirmed the importance of connecting the two economies, especially institutional, transport infrastructure, energy, telecommunication, tourism connectivity, of fruitful realization of their key projects in which priority will be given to connecting aviation and roads planned for the East-West Economic Corridor (EWEC) and bus connectivity between Viet Nam, Laos and Thailand; agreed to task their ministries, agencies and localities to quickly review and report to their leaders on the progress and quality of Viet Nam’s investment projects in Laos so that arising obstacles could be addressed timely.

Both sides agreed to coordinate in fostering cooperation within the framework of the Viet Nam-Laos-Cambodia Development Triangle and in effectively realizing the Action Program on connecting Cambodia-Laos-Viet Nam economies through 2030, which was approved at the 10^th CLV Summit in Ha Noi on March 2018.

8. The two sides especially pay attention to education and training and human resource development cooperation, agreed to continue collaboration in effectively deploying the agreements in this sector; expand areas of human resource development cooperation, focusing on high quality workforce for key fields in a bid to catch up with the 4^th industrial revolution.

9. The two sides highly valued the effectiveness of activities regarding dissemination, cultural exchanges, tourism promotion at central and local levels; agreed to foster tourism connectivity, particularly between their border provinces, actively participate in international tourism events hosted by both countries. The two sides emphasized the need to enhance information exchanges on the implementation of the Viet Nam-Laos labor cooperation agreement. Laos will continue active consideration of simplifying procedures on fee collection for issuing work permits, especially for people who work at key projects.

10. The two sides agreed to promptly share information and coordinate closely with each other and with relevant countries and international organizations in ensuring the sustainable management and use of the Mekong water resources for common benefits of people in the regional countries; continue effective collaboration and mutual support at regional and international cooperation mechanisms, especially within ASEAN, UN, WTO, ASEM, non-aligned movement, and Mekong sub-region mechanisms, including the International Mekong River Commission. The two sides affirmed their commitments to work with the member States in building a strong, rule-based, unified, people-centered ASEAN Community  and promoting ASEAN centrality in the emerging architecture in the region. Laos vowed to support and coordinate closely with Viet Nam as the latter takes over the ASEAN Chairmanship in 2020 and Non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council for the 2020-2021. The two sides committed to enhancing cooperation and mutual support throughout their comprehensive and extensive international integration processes for the benefits of people of the two countries.

The two sides agreed to coordinate closely with relevant countries towards finalization of talks for Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) in 2019, in which development gap of the participating countries are taken into consideration to ensure a comprehensive and balanced deal.

11. The two sides reiterated the importance of maintaining peace, stability, rule of law and security, of ensuring safety and freedom of navigation and overflights in the East Sea, of settling disputes through peaceful measures on the basis of international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS 1982). The two sides reaffirmed the principled positions of ASEAN on the East Sea issue, which were stated in the ASEAN’s recent Statements, especially the Statement issued following the 52^nd ASEAN Ministerial Meeting in Bangkok, Thailand in July 2019.

12. The two sides spoke highly of the outcomes and the profound significance of the official Viet Nam visit by Lao Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith, which will contribute to further deepening the great friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation  to meet the aspirations of the people of the two countries and for peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region and the world.

Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith sincerely thanked for the warm hospitality of the Party, Government and people of Viet Nam for his delegation; conveyed greetings of Lao Party General Secretary and State President Bounnhang Volachith and Chairwoman of the Lao National Assembly Pany Yathotou to Party General Secretary and State President Nguyen Phu Trong and Chairwoman of the National Assembly Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan and extended invitation to Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc and his Spouse to pay an official visit to Laos at convenient time. Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc accepted the invitation with pleasure./.

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