Vietnamese President hold talks with Lao Party chief, President
VGP - President To Lam and General Secretary and President of Laos Thongloun Sisoulith held talks in Vientiane, Laos, on July 11.
President To Lam (L) and General Secretary of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party (LPRP) Central Committee and President of Laos Thongloun Sisoulith holds talks, Vientiane, Laos, July 11, 2024 - Photo: VNA
The Lao Party leader and President hailed President To Lam's selection of Laos as the first country to visit after taking office, which indicates that the Party and State of Viet Nam attach importance to the great friendship, special solidarity, and comprehensive cooperation with Laos.
Thongloun expressed his readiness to work with President To to further promote the relationship between the two countries in a sustainable and effective manner.
The two leaders expressed their delight at the fruitful developments in the bilateral ties and agreed that both sides will continue the exchange of high-level delegations and promote the role of important bilateral cooperation mechanisms in order to maintain and cement political trust at the highest level.
Both sides reaffirmed the consistent policy of giving the top priority to consolidating and nurturing their great friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between the two nations.
The pair underlined the need to continue effective implementation of high-level agreements and step up consultation on strategic issues.
They agreed to promote communication about the history and traditions of the bilateral ties for their peoples, especially the youth; soon put the history of Viet Nam-Laos special relations into curriculum at each side's educational establishments; and work closely to build historical works and relics featuring their relations, including the Laos-Viet Nam Friendship Park in Vientiane.
They pledged to enhance security and defense cooperation to deal with new challenges; and continue mutual support to ensure political stability, security, social order and safety in each country.
Both sides vowed to closely coordinate in border protection and management, especially preventing and fighting transnational crimes, drug crimes, illegal exploitation of natural resources, and illegal immigration.
It is necessary to upgrade international border gates and roads connecting the two countries; and improve the effectiveness of cooperation in the fields of education and training, tourism, energy, clean agriculture, science, technology, health, culture, people-to-people exchanges and local-to-local linkages, the two leaders emphasized.
The two countries need to increase the sharing and exchange of information, bolster close cooperation at regional and international forums, ensure solidarity and promote the central role of ASEAN and ASEAN-led mechanisms, they noted.
To Lam, for his part, said Viet Nam will wholeheartedly support Laos to successfully undertake important international roles in 2024, including the role of ASEAN and the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA) chairmanships.
He announced the delivery of 20 VinFast electric cars to assist Laos during its ASEAN Chairmanship in 2024.
Following the talks, the two leaders witnessed the exchange of four documents, including a memorandum of understanding between the two Ministries of Public Security on building and implementing a population management and citizen identification system in Laos; extradition agreement between the Ministry of Public Security of Viet Nam and the Supreme People's Procuracy of Laos; cooperation plan for 2024 between the two Ministries of Justice; and an agreement to strengthen air transport connection between Viet Nam and Laos./.
