Write a new chapter of comradeship.

Elevating Vietnam-Laos economic cooperation, implementing international integration, facilitating a new wave of investment from Vietnam into Laos, and accompanying Laos in fulfilling its responsibilities as ASEAN Chair in 2024... are important tasks in Vietnam-Laos cooperation, and also the focus of discussions during the New Year visit to Vietnam by Lao Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone and his wife.

At the invitation of Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh , Lao Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone and his wife paid an official visit to Vietnam, co-chairing the 46th Session of the Intergovernmental Committee on Bilateral Cooperation between Vietnam and Laos (January 6-7).

Vietnamese Ambassador to Laos Nguyen Ba Hung said that the visit brought to the Vietnamese people warm and close feelings of brotherhood and comradeship, creating new momentum to promote relations between the two countries in 2024.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh met with Lao Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone on the occasion of attending the ASEAN-Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Summit in Saudi Arabia, October 20, 2023. (Source: VNA)

Lao Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone is one of the first foreign leaders to visit Vietnam in 2024. Ambassador, could you please share the significance of this visit by Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone?

The official visit of Lao Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone to Vietnam takes place in the context that, despite being significantly affected by the complex developments in the world and the region, both countries are striving to implement the resolutions of each Party and their respective socio-economic development plans, achieving important results; Laos is actively preparing for the first activities of its ASEAN Chairmanship Year 2024; the cooperative relationship between Vietnam and Laos is developing very well, with agreements between the two Parties, joint statements made during visits by high-level leaders of both countries, and cooperation agreements between the two Governments being actively implemented and achieving many important results.

In this context, this visit by Lao Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone is of great significance to both countries, especially as it is his first official visit to Vietnam as Prime Minister of Laos, and he is one of the first foreign leaders to visit Vietnam in 2024, bringing to the Vietnamese people warm and fraternal feelings.

Besides reaffirming the close and enduring relationship between the two Parties, Governments, and peoples of Vietnam and Laos, this is also an opportunity for both sides to share information on the situation in each country, the global situation, and the region of mutual interest; to assess the results of the comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and Laos in 2023; and to exchange views on the direction of cooperation between the two countries in 2024.

With that in mind, I am confident that the official visit of Lao Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone to Vietnam will be a great success, creating new impetus to further deepen, strengthen, and enhance the effectiveness of the special Vietnam-Lao cooperation in 2024 and beyond.

The Intergovernmental Committee Meeting on Bilateral Cooperation (the Meeting) is one of the most important annual cooperation mechanisms between Vietnam and Laos. What are the highlights of the upcoming meeting, Ambassador?

For the upcoming 46th Session, along with other important areas of cooperation, one issue that, in my opinion, will be the focus of discussion and agreement between the two sides is measures to elevate Vietnam-Laos cooperation in the economic field to a level commensurate with the excellent political, defense, and security relations and the inherent potential of the two countries. This has been a consistent directive from high-level leaders and a long-held aspiration of ministries, departments, localities, businesses, and the people of both countries.

Another important topic, in my opinion, that could be discussed on this occasion is the need for both countries to coordinate in implementing international integration, especially international economic integration, cultural cooperation, and tourism (in the context of 2024, which will see many important commemorative events for both countries and will be the Year of Lao Tourism). This would both demonstrate to the world the special solidarity between Vietnam and Laos and bring practical benefits to the people of both countries. In particular, both sides will discuss close cooperation when Laos assumes the ASEAN chairmanship in 2024, as well as Vietnam's support to help Laos successfully fulfill its role as chair.

The Laos-Vietnam Friendship Hospital in Xiengkhouang province is one of the key projects of the two countries. (Source: VNA)

Vietnam currently has over 400 FDI projects in Laos. The Lao Minister of Planning and Investment and Chairman of the Laos-Vietnam Cooperation Committee, Khamjane Vongphosy, recently stated that Laos-Vietnam cooperation is at an unprecedented high level. What is your assessment, Ambassador, and what are the key areas of cooperation with significant potential?

I wholeheartedly agree with the assessment of the Lao Minister of Planning and Investment, Khamjane Vongphosy. It is true that in 2023, the cooperative relationship between the two countries reached an "unprecedented" level across all fields, from politics and diplomacy to security and defense, and economics. This is reflected in the special attention and decisive direction of the high-level leaders of both countries in promoting Vietnam-Laos cooperation in the economic sector, especially in creating an even more favorable business and investment environment for enterprises of both countries.

Specifically, in 2023, economic cooperation yielded many positive results. These include the strong leadership and involvement of the leaders and governments of both countries in promoting the effective implementation of cooperation agreements reached at the 45th Session of the Vietnam-Laos Intergovernmental Committee; frequent meetings and encouragement of the business communities of both countries during visits by Vietnamese leaders such as Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue, and Minister of Planning and Investment Nguyen Chi Dung; and coordinated efforts to resolve long-standing difficulties and obstacles for businesses, thereby improving the investment environment.

Several key projects and works have been completed on schedule, such as Nongkhang Airport in Houaphanh province and the Lao-Vietnamese Friendship Hospital in Xiengkhuang province, which were handed over and put into operation in May 2023, creating a highlight and receiving high praise from Lao leaders…

One very important point I've noticed is the emergence of a new wave of Vietnamese investment in Laos, with many large, capable corporations such as VietJet Air, VinGroup, Viet Phuong, Xuan Thien, etc., along with large, high-quality projects.

Regarding key areas of cooperation with significant potential in the future, in my opinion, besides the areas we have been developing so far such as telecommunications, banking, rubber cultivation and processing, food production and processing, dairy, electricity, and mining, the two countries will focus on deepening economic cooperation.

Accordingly, the driving force for the development of Vietnam-Laos economic cooperation will be economic connections, especially transportation infrastructure connections to further promote investment, trade, and tourism between the two sides; strengthening financial connections by promoting cooperation in the use of the LAK and VND currencies between the two countries; and continuing to address the difficulties and obstacles faced by Vietnamese businesses investing in Laos…

Vietnamese Ambassador to Laos Nguyen Ba Hung.

In 2024, Laos will assume the chairmanship of ASEAN. How can we work alongside you to fulfill this important responsibility, Ambassador?

From the moment the Lao People's Democratic Republic officially announced its assumption of the ASEAN Chairmanship in 2024, during talks, meetings, and contacts between high-level leaders of the two countries, both sides agreed to closely coordinate and support each other during ASEAN 2024 in particular and other multilateral forums in general.

Upholding the tradition of sharing joys and sorrows, "sharing a grain of rice in half, dividing a stalk of vegetable in two," during his official visit to Laos in April 2023, President Vo Van Thuong announced a gift from the Party, State, and people of Vietnam worth 1 million USD to the Party, State, and people of Laos to contribute to the preparation for the ASEAN Chairmanship Year 2024.

Furthermore, during meetings and exchanges between leaders at all levels, Vietnam has consistently affirmed its commitment to continue supporting Laos to the best of its ability to help Laos successfully assume the ASEAN Chairmanship in 2024. At the same time, Vietnam has expressed its readiness to cooperate closely with other ASEAN member states and external partners for the common benefit of the region and to promote a strong ASEAN community.

I am confident that, with close coordination and support from friendly countries, including Vietnam, Laos' ASEAN Chairmanship in 2024 will be a great success as expected, thereby making a positive contribution to peace, stability, and cooperative development in the region and the world.

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/thu-tuong-lao-tham-viet-nam-viet-trang-moi-cua-tinh-dong-chi-256157.html