At the meeting, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh thanked the Lao Prime Minister for accepting to attend and speak at the ASEAN Future Forum.
Lao Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone emphasized that Laos always pays close attention to and considers Vietnam's achievements a great source of encouragement and motivation for Laos' cause of national construction and development.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and Lao Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandon
Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone welcomed and highly appreciated Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh's idea of organizing the Forum in 2024 when Laos is holding the ASEAN Chairmanship. At the same time, he said that the forum is a very meaningful event with the participation and contributions of representatives of governments, scholars, and researchers in the region and the world ; demonstrating Vietnam's proactive and practical contributions to the ASEAN Community in the new context, helping to enhance Vietnam's role and position in the region and the world.
Discussing bilateral relations, the two Prime Ministers agreed that the great friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and Laos have continued to develop well, firmly and effectively in all fields over the past time.
Political relations have been continuously strengthened and promoted towards increasing trust and closeness through the regular exchange of visits and meetings at high and all levels between the two sides.
Defense and security cooperation continues to be important pillars, increasingly close and effective, contributing to ensuring defense, security, and social order and safety in each country.
Economic, trade and investment cooperation continues to be promoted and has many positive changes. Bilateral trade in the first quarter of 2024 reached 476.8 million USD, up 12% over the same period in 2023. Vietnam currently has 245 investment projects in Laos with a total registered capital of 5.5 billion USD, continuing to maintain its 3rd position among countries and territories investing in Laos.
Cooperation in other fields such as education and training, culture, science and technology, tourism and people-to-people exchange continues to be promoted towards improving efficiency and quality.
Overview of the work
On this occasion, the two Prime Ministers discussed specific measures to effectively implement high-level agreements and the results of the 46th meeting of the Vietnam-Laos Intergovernmental Committee. The two sides agreed to continue to increase the exchange of high-level visits and contacts; effectively implement agreements between the two governments, including the Vietnam-Laos Cooperation Strategy Agreement for the 2021-2030 period, the Agreement on Vietnam-Laos Bilateral Cooperation for the 2021-2025 period and the Agreement on the Vietnam-Laos Cooperation Plan 2024.
To improve the effectiveness of cooperation in the coming time, the two Prime Ministers agreed on the need to strengthen the connection between the two economies, especially in terms of institutions, finance, transport infrastructure, energy, telecommunications, and tourism; support each other in building an independent and self-reliant economy, associated with proactive and active international integration, in a deep, substantive and effective manner; coordinate to review and resolve difficulties, creating a favorable environment for Vietnamese enterprises to feel secure in investing and doing business in Laos; effectively implement protocols and cooperation projects in the fields of education and human resource development.
The two Prime Ministers agreed to continue to closely coordinate and support each other at regional and international forums such as ASEAN, the United Nations and the Mekong sub-region mechanisms. Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh affirmed that Vietnam will continue to support and assist Laos in successfully assuming its international responsibilities in 2024, including the role of ASEAN Chair.
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