Continuously strengthen and develop the special relationship between Vietnam and Laos

At the invitation of General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party,President of the Lao People's Democratic Republic Thongloun Sisoulith, President Vo Van Thuong and a high-ranking delegation of Vietnam will pay an official visit to Laos from April 10-11, 2023. This is President Vo Van Thuong's first foreign trip and Laos is the first country the President has visited in his new position.

President Vo Van Thuong. Photo: Thong Nhat/VNA

The visit took place in the context of the great friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and Laos continuing to develop sustainably and increasingly in depth. Over the years, Vietnam and Laos have had a traditional relationship of solidarity, closeness and loyalty. Cooperation in all areas has become increasingly effective and substantive. Political relations continue to develop well, closely and with trust. The two sides have successfully coordinated to organize: The 44th Meeting of the Vietnam - Laos Intergovernmental Committee, the Launching Ceremony of the "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, Laos - Vietnam Solidarity and Friendship Year 2022, with the highlight being the solemn celebration ceremony 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 Friendship and Cooperation Treaty (July 18, 1977), along with many other meaningful activities in the capitals and provinces and cities of each country. Defense and security cooperation continued to be strengthened. The two Ministries of National Defense signed a Letter of Intent on cooperation in search and rescue; handed over the Lao People's Army Political Theory School, conducted a search and rescue exercise in the three countries of Cambodia - Laos - Vietnam; coordinated in searching, collecting and repatriating 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 coordinating comprehensive implementation; strengthening border control, preventing illegal entry and exit; Strengthen coordination to resolve 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. Two-way trade turnover in 2022 reached more than 1.703 billion USD, an increase of more than 25% compared to 2021. The two sides successfully organized many talks 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 started and inaugurated, and handed over 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 continued to receive attention. The Ministries of Education of the two countries issued the Vietnam - Laos Education Cooperation Project for the period 2021 - 2030; signed the Protocol on Vietnam - Laos Training Cooperation for the period 2022 - 2027; 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 Vietnam 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 continued to effectively implement the Cultural - Arts and Tourism Cooperation Plan for the 2021 - 2025 period; launched 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 Bok 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. In addition, 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. Vietnam continues to receive Lao patients for emergency treatment in Vietnam, which is highly appreciated by Laos.

In 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. Assessing the official visit to Laos by President Vo Van Thuong, Vietnamese Ambassador to Laos Nguyen Ba Hung said that the working trip of comrade Vo Van Thuong took place only a short time after being elected as President by the 15th National Assembly , once again showing that the leaders of the Party and State of Vietnam have special affection and attention for Laos; demonstrating the determination and strong commitment of the leaders of the two countries in nurturing the great friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and Laos and continuously developing it to new heights. The visit took place right before the traditional New Year of Boun Pi May 2566 of the Lao people, as millions of best wishes from the Vietnamese people sent to the Lao people to enter the New Year with luck, achieving new and greater achievements; the country is increasingly prosperous, the people are increasingly prosperous and happy. It is expected that within the framework of the visit, President Vo Van Thuong and the high-ranking delegation will have a series of important activities such as: Attending the official welcoming ceremony; holding talks with the General Secretary and President of Laos; meeting with the Lao Prime Minister and Chairman of the Lao National Assembly; receiving the Chairman of the Central Committee of the Lao Front for National Construction, Chairman of the Central Committee of the Laos - Vietnam Friendship Association; visiting the Embassy and meeting with representatives of the Vietnamese community in Laos... In the context of the increasingly close and trustworthy Vietnam - Laos relationship, President Vo Van Thuong's visit will contribute to creating new momentum for Vietnam - Laos cooperation in all channels and areas of cooperation; contributing to the effective implementation of high-level agreements between 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.

Thu Phuong (Vietnam News Agency)