Viet Nam gives highest priority to special ties with Laos

One year ago, Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh was the first foreign leader to visit Laos and he was the first foreign guest of Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone after Siphandone took office.

During the upcoming visit, the two Prime Ministers will review the achievements in the bilateral ties in 2023, chart major orientations to boost cooperation in 2024 and coordination at regional and international forums, especially within the frameworks of ASEAN, Mekong Subregion cooperation, and the United Nations.

Over the past year, political-diplomatic relations between the two countries have been consolidated while trust has become increasingly strengthened. Both sides have coordinated in successfully organizing the annual meeting of the two Politburos, the 45th meeting of the Inter-governmental Committee, and the closing ceremony of the Viet Nam-Laos Friendship Year 2022.

The two sides have maintained and enhanced defense and security cooperation, which is an important pillar of the two countries' bilateral ties, by effective realization of the Protocols and cooperation plans; worked together in search for and repatriation of remains of Vietnamese voluntary soldiers and experts who sacrficed in Laos during the wartime.

The two countries have coordinated well in combatting transnational crime, particularly drug and human trafficking.

On economic cooperation, the two countreis signed a Memorandum of Understanding on border trade infrastructure development and connectivity; worked together to amend trade agreement and border trade agreement in order to further facilitate bilateral trade exchanges.

Vietnamese investors pledged to pour US$5.47 billion in 241 projects, becoming the third largest foreign investor in Laos, after China and Thailand.

Both sides have coordinated closely and supported each other at regional and international forums, especially within the frameworks of ASEAN, United Nations, and Mekong Subregion./.