Vietnam and Laos continue to support each other in building independent and self-reliant economies.

On the afternoon of September 10th, at the Government Headquarters, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh met with General Secretary and President of the Lao People's Democratic Republic Thongloun Sisoulith on the occasion of the Lao General Secretary and President leading a high-level delegation of the Lao Party and State on a state visit to Vietnam.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and General Secretary and President of Laos Thongloun Sisoulith. (Photo: THANH GIANG)

At the meeting, on behalf of the Vietnamese Government, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh warmly congratulated General Secretary and President of Laos Thongloun Sisoulith on his state visit to Vietnam, bringing with him the close comradely and fraternal feelings of the Party, State, and people of Laos.

General Secretary and President Thongloun Sisoulith expressed his pleasure at making a state visit to Vietnam; thanked the leaders of the Party, State, and people of Vietnam for the warm, respectful, and thoughtful reception given to the high-level Lao delegation; congratulated the fraternal Vietnamese people on the great and comprehensive achievements they have made in socio-economic development and international integration in recent years, especially the solid political stability, rapid and sustainable economic growth, and the continuously improving role and position on the international stage; and expressed confidence that, under the effective leadership of the Government, Vietnam will continue to achieve even more victories in the cause of national construction and development, successfully implementing the goals set by the 13th National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh showed General Secretary and President of Laos Thongloun Sisoulith photographs illustrating the special friendship between the two countries. (Photo: TRAN HAI)

In light of the damage caused Typhoon No. 3 Following the disaster, General Secretary and President of Laos Thongloun Sisoulith sent his sincere condolences to the fraternal Vietnamese people, especially those localities and people affected by this natural disaster; and expressed his confidence that, under the leadership and close attention of the Vietnamese Party and Government from the central to local levels, the Vietnamese people will overcome all difficulties, and the lives of the people and those in affected areas will soon stabilize and return to normal.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh shakes hands with General Secretary and President of Laos Thongloun Sisoulith. (Photo: TRAN HAI)

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh emphasized that the visit of the General Secretary and President of Laos to Vietnam is of paramount importance, marking a milestone in the history of bilateral relations and contributing to the promotion of the great solidarity between the two countries. Vietnam-Laos It is becoming increasingly in-depth and effective, bringing prosperity to the people of each country as well as contributing to peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region and the world; congratulations on the great achievements that the fraternal Lao people have made in the cause of protecting and developing the country after nearly 40 years of reform as well as in implementing the Resolution of the 11th Party Congress and the 9th Five-Year Socio-Economic Development Plan (2021-2025).

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh delivers a speech at the meeting. (Photo: TRAN HAI)

The Prime Minister expressed confidence that under the wise leadership of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party, headed by General Secretary and President Thongloun Sisoulith, Laos will successfully implement the Resolution of the 11th Congress of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party and the 9th Five-Year National Socio-Economic Development Plan.

Lao Party General Secretary and President Thongloun Sisoulith delivers a speech. (Photo: TRAN HAI)

On this occasion, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh briefed on Vietnam's recent socio-economic development and expressed his gratitude for the support and condolences extended by the Party, State, and people of Laos to the Vietnamese people following the aftermath of Typhoon No. 3, demonstrating the close fraternal bond and traditional mutual assistance between the two nations.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and leaders of ministries, branches, and central agencies of Vietnam at the meeting. (Photo: TRAN HAI)

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and General Secretary and President Thongloun Sisoulith They expressed pleasure at the continuously strengthening, deepening, and increasingly effective relationship between the two countries.

Political relations remain close and trustworthy; cooperation in the fields of defense and security continues to be an important pillar; economic, trade, investment, education and training, culture, science and technology relations, and cooperation between localities of the two countries continue to develop.

General Secretary and President of Laos Thongloun Sisoulith and other leaders of the Lao Party and State. (Photo: TRAN HAI)

The two leaders reached a high degree of consensus on the direction of future cooperation in various fields, emphasizing the continued close coordination in implementing high-level agreements, the results of the 46th Session of the Vietnam-Laos Intergovernmental Committee, the results of President To Lam's State visit to Laos, as well as cooperation programs between ministries, departments, and localities of the two countries; strengthening exchanges of high-level and other delegations; promoting defense and security cooperation as important pillars of cooperation; promoting effective economic and trade cooperation, creating more favorable conditions for businesses of both countries to invest and operate in each other's countries; continuing to support each other in building independent and self-reliant economies, while simultaneously integrating deeply and effectively into the international community. Further strengthen the connectivity between the two economies of Vietnam and Laos, and between the three economies of Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia, especially in terms of institutions, finance, transportation infrastructure, energy, telecommunications, and tourism.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and General Secretary and President of Laos Thongloun Sisoulith with Vietnamese youth. (Photo: TRAN HAI)

The two leaders also agreed to focus on removing obstacles in the implementation of important projects; and to continue to pay attention to and promote cooperation in education, culture, tourism, banking, labor, and people-to-people exchanges.

Against the backdrop of complex international and regional developments, both sides agreed to continue regularly exchanging experiences and information, coordinating closely, and supporting each other in international and regional forums, especially in ASEAN, the United Nations, and sub-regional mechanisms.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh emphasized that Vietnam will continue to coordinate with and support Laos to the fullest extent possible to help Laos successfully fulfill its important international responsibilities in 2024, including its role as ASEAN Chair.

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