At the invitation of General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party, President of the Lao PDR Thongloun Sisoulith, President Vo Van Thuong and a high-ranking Vietnamese delegation paid an official visit to the Lao PDR from April 10-11, 2023. This is an important foreign policy activity of both countries, the first foreign visit of President Vo Van Thuong and Laos is the first country the President has officially visited in his new position.
The official visit to the Lao PDR by President Vo Van Thuong took place in the context of the great friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and Laos continuing to develop well, becoming increasingly profound and effective. The agreements of the high-ranking leaders of the two Parties and countries and the cooperation agreements and pacts have been actively implemented and achieved good results in all fields. In 2022, the two countries celebrated the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations and the 45th anniversary of the Vietnam-Laos Friendship and Cooperation Treaty.
The security and political situation in Laos is basically stable, and social order and security are ensured. Laos successfully organized the 11th Congress of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party (January 13-15, 2021) and the election of the 9th National Assembly (February 22, 2021), proposed and actively implemented the 9th Five-Year Socio-Economic Development Plan (2021-2025) in conjunction with two National Agendas on resolving economic and financial difficulties and addressing the drug problem.
Laos has basically controlled the COVID-19 epidemic; fully reopened the country and welcomed international tourists (from May 9, 2022). As of October 24, 2022, more than 5.9 million people have received at least 1 dose of vaccine (81% of the population), of which 5.32 million people have received 2 doses (72% of the population), 19% of the population has received a booster shot.
Regarding the economy, according to the Lao Government, in 2022: GDP growth of 4.4%; trade turnover of 10.11 billion USD; welcoming more than 644,756 international tourists with more than 100 million USD in revenue (by September 1, 2022). In 2023, Laos' GDP is forecast to grow by 4.5% (target of the Lao Government), 3.5% (Asian Development Bank - ADB). The Lao Government is actively implementing measures to overcome difficulties, restore economic growth, handle public debt, and strengthen the fight against corruption and drug crimes.
In terms of foreign affairs, Laos currently has diplomatic relations with 140 countries and more than 130 political parties in the world, and trade relations with 60 countries and territories. Laos is an official member of ASEAN (July 1997) and has held the ASEAN Chairmanship twice (2004 and 2016), and is expected to hold the ASEAN Chairmanship in 2024.
The Lao PDR is implementing a foreign policy of peace, independence, friendship, cooperation for development and a policy of preventive and breakthrough diplomacy to protect and develop the country; strengthening comprehensive cooperation with strategic friends; diverse, multilateral, and unified multi-level cooperation in all channels of the Party, Government, National Assembly, and mass organizations; enhancing proactiveness in organizing and effectively implementing cooperation mechanisms; focusing on economic diplomacy from the central to local levels.
Vietnam - Laos political and diplomatic relations, in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, the two countries still maintain momentum and develop relations in all fields. Political relations continue to develop well, the two sides successfully coordinated to organize: The 44th meeting of the Vietnam - Laos Intergovernmental Committee, the launching ceremony of "Vietnam - Laos Solidarity and Friendship Year 2022" (January 2022), the launching ceremony of the Laos - Vietnam Friendship Park project in the capital Vientiane (May 15, 2022); regularly organize visits and meetings of high-ranking leaders and all levels from the central to local levels. Notably, the two sides successfully coordinated to organize the Vietnam - Laos and Laos - Vietnam Solidarity and Friendship Year 2022, with the highlight being the solemn celebration to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations (September 5, 1962) and the 45th anniversary of the signing of the Vietnam - Laos Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation (July 18, 1977), along with many other meaningful activities in the capitals and provinces of each country.
During the more than two years of the COVID-19 outbreak, our Party, State and People have supported the Lao Party, State and People in responding to the pandemic: the first time was 500,000 USD and medical supplies and equipment with a total value of 2 million USD (May 4, 2021) and sent a delegation of medical experts and a delegation of experts from our Military Medical Academy to support Laos in fighting the pandemic (May 10-24 and May 3-20, 2021); the second time was 2,150,000 USD and some medical supplies worth about 120,000 USD (October 25, 2021). In addition, our Government and ministries, branches and localities have also donated 500,000 doses of AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine to Laos (January 28, 2022) along with many other epidemic prevention equipment and supplies. The Lao Party, State and People have supported us with 300,000 USD to help us respond to the COVID-19 epidemic. In total, you have supported us with about 1.4 million USD from a number of agencies, units and businesses to help our localities fight the epidemic.
Defense and security cooperation continued to be strengthened. The two Ministries of Defense signed a Letter of Intent on cooperation in search and rescue; handed over the Lao People's Army Political Theory School; conducted a CLV-3 country search and rescue exercise; coordinated the search, collection and repatriation of the remains of Vietnamese volunteer soldiers and experts who died in Laos during the war. The two Ministries of Public Security signed a Cooperation Plan for 2022, actively coordinated comprehensive implementation; strengthened border control, prevented illegal entry and exit; strengthened coordination in resolving issues related to security, social order, human trafficking, transnational crimes, especially drug trafficking and transportation.
Economic, trade and investment cooperation continues to be well maintained. The two sides successfully organized many seminars between high-ranking leaders of the two countries and Vietnamese and Lao enterprises. Vietnam currently has 219 valid investment projects in Laos, with a total registered capital of about 4.7 billion USD, maintaining the 3rd position (after China and Thailand). In 2022, the two sides organized the groundbreaking, inauguration and handover of a number of projects using aid capital from the Vietnamese Government to the Lao Government; businesses of the two sides actively exchanged and signed a Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation. In 2022, Vietnam's investment in Laos increased by 5 new projects and 4 projects with increased capital with a total value of 70 million USD, an increase of 46% over the same period in 2021; two-way trade turnover between the two countries reached nearly 1.7 billion USD (an increase of more than 25%).
Cooperation in education, training and culture continues to receive attention. The two countries' Ministries of Education have issued the Vietnam - Laos Education Cooperation Project for the 2021 - 2030 period; signed the Protocol on Vietnam - Laos Training Cooperation for the 2022 - 2027 period; organized the Vietnam Education Exhibition and the Forum on Improving Training Quality in Vietnam - Laos Education Cooperation in Vientiane. In 2022, Vietnam will provide Laos with 1,155 scholarships to study in Vietnam, and Laos will provide us with 60 scholarships. The total number of Lao students studying in Vietnam is about 14,000 (over 4,000 under the Government's agreement) at 160 Vietnamese educational institutions. The two sides continue to effectively implement the Cultural - Arts and Tourism Cooperation Plan for the 2021 - 2025 period; organized the launching ceremony of the Laos-Vietnam Friendship Park project in Vientiane; successfully organized the Vietnam Cultural Week in Laos, the Lao Cultural Week in Vietnam and the 3rd Vietnam-Laos Border Cultural, Sports and Tourism Exchange Festival. The two sides completed and handed over the Vietnam-Laos Friendship Vocational School in Nong-boc district, Khammouane province; inaugurated and handed over the project to repair and embellish the President Ho Chi Minh Memorial Site in Khammouane province, and launched the project to build the Vietnam-Laos Friendship Park in the capital Vientiane.
Cooperation between localities, especially those sharing borders, continues to be strengthened, especially in infrastructure construction, healthcare, human resource training and development, ensuring security, order and safety in the border areas of the two countries. We continue to receive Lao patients for emergency treatment in Vietnam, which is highly appreciated by our friends.
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.
The official visit to the Lao PDR by President Vo Van Thuong takes place in the context of increasingly close and trustworthy relations between Vietnam and Laos. We believe that the visit by President Vo Van Thuong and the high-ranking delegation of our country will be a great success, contributing to creating new momentum for the Vietnam-Laos cooperation relationship in all channels and areas of cooperation; contributing to the effective implementation of high-level agreements of the two Parties and two countries, including the Vietnam-Laos Cooperation Strategy Agreement for the 2021-2030 period and the Agreement on Vietnam-Laos bilateral cooperation for the 2021-2025 period; contributing to constantly consolidating and developing the great friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and Laos.
Friends visiting us: Prime Minister Phan-kham Vi-pha-van paid an official visit (January 8 - 10); Standing member of the Secretariat, Vice President Bun-thoong Chit-ma-ni paid an official visit and attended the Anniversary Celebration of the 20th National Day (July 17 - 19); Vice President Pany Ya-tho-tu paid an official visit and vacation (April 25 - May 1); Vice Chairman of the National Assembly Sun-thon Xay-nha-chac paid a working visit (July 19 - 23); Vice Chairman of the National Assembly Som-mat Pho-sena visited and worked (July 7 - 14); Member of the Politburo - Deputy Prime Minister - Minister of Public Security, General Vi-lay La-kham-phong paid a working visit (October 24 - 26); Politburo member - Deputy Prime Minister - Minister of Foreign Affairs Salomsay Kommasit attended the Conference on disseminating legal policies to typical village chiefs in the Vietnam - Laos border area in Nghe An (December 2022); Politburo member - Deputy Prime Minister - Minister of National Defense Chan-sa-mon Chan-nha-lat attended the Vietnam International Defense Exhibition 2022 (December 2022); Deputy Prime Minister Son-xay Si-phan-don attended the Investment Seminar in Ho Chi Minh City (December 2022). We visit our friends: Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh pays an official visit (January 11-12, 2023); National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue pays an official visit (May 15-17); Standing member of the Secretariat Vo Van Thuong visits and attends activities commemorating the Vietnam - Laos Solidarity Year 2022 (July 17-19); Head of the Central Organizing Committee Truong Thi Mai visits and works (May 30 - June 1); Secretary of the Hanoi Party Committee Dinh Tien Dung visits and works (April 3-6); Secretary of the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee Nguyen Van Nen visits and works (May 25-29); Head of the Central Propaganda Department Nguyen Trong Nghia visits and works (April 24-27); Minister of Public Security To Lam visits and works (August 24-25); Minister of National Defense Phan Van Giang pays an official visit (September 13-19); Minister of Planning and Investment Nguyen Chi Dung visited and worked (March 21-23); Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien visited and worked (April 10-11); Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son paid an official visit to Laos, co-chaired the Vietnam-Laos Foreign Ministerial Political Consultation (April 27-29); Chairman of Hanoi People's Committee Tran Sy Thanh visited and worked (November 4-5). |
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