Vietnam, Laos to strengthen comprehensive cooperation

Vietnam and Laos have agreed to boost their comprehensive cooperation, focusing on equality and mutual benefits.

Vietnamese Party chief and State President Nguyen Phu Trong joined talks with his Laotian counterpart Bounnhang Vorachith in Vientiane on Sunday, as part of the former’s official friendly visit from February 24 to 25, the Vietnam News Agency reported.

This is Trong’s first overseas trip in his new position as the top leader of the Vietnamese Party and State.

General Secretary and President Vorachith considered that the visit reflected the special friendship, solidarity, close relations, mutual trust, and comprehensive cooperation between the Parties, states and people of both nations.

The leaders agreed to step up the Vietnam-Laos comprehensive cooperation on the principles of equality and mutual benefits.

The two sides vowed to continue strengthening political collaboration, maintaining high-level meetings, expanding exchanges between agencies, organizations and localities, especially those along the two countries’ borderline. 

Both sides will continue exchanging their experience in education, cyber security, improvement of the Party’s supervision and inspection capacity, and socio-economic development.

Focus will also be directed to cementing ties in tourism, culture, science and technology, and healthcare, as well as creating a more favorable legal framework for cooperation across multiple spheres.

Both leaders highlighted the significance of maintaining peace, stability, security and safety in the East Vietnam Sea and agreed to promote the settlement of disputes via peaceful measures in line with international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

Vietnam and Laos will join hands with relevant sides to fully and effectively implement the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties (DOC) and soon reach a practical and effective Code of Conduct (COC) for the maritime area.

Following their talks, the two leaders witnessed the signing of nine cooperation documents in such fields as energy, finance, construction, and transport.

General Secretary Trong also met Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith and Chairwoman of the National Assembly Pany Yathotou on the same day.

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