Vientiane (VNA) – The state visit to Vietnam by Party General Secretary and State President of Laos Thongloun Sisoulith and his spouse from September 10-13 further underscores the determination of the two countries’ high-ranking leaders to preserve, strengthen, and develop their great friendship, special solidarity, and comprehensive cooperation, Chargé d'Affaires of the Embassy of Vietnam in Laos Phan Minh Chien has said.

Speaking to the Vietnam News Agency in Vientiane, Chien said that the trip, made at an invitation of Party General Secretary and State President To Lam, is of great significance as it takes place after Lam was elected General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee on August 3.

It creates an opportunity for the highest-ranking leaders of both parties and states to meet in-person, exchange views, assess the results of cooperation in the past times, and agree on major orientations in key areas such as politics-diplomacy, security-defence, economics, education-training, science, technology, and tourism, with the aim of better supporting the national building, development, and innovation in each country. Additionally, the two sides will discuss global and regional issues of mutual concern.

Within the framework of this visit, both sides will sign several important cooperation agreements, Chien said.

The diplomat went on to say that although the global and regional situations continue to evolve rapidly, complicatedly, and unpredictably, affecting all countries, including Vietnam and Laos, the agreements between the two parties and countries have been actively and effectively implemented by their all-level agencies, sectors, localities, and businesses, thus contributing to consolidating and enhancing the bilateral special relationship in all fields.

Chien proposed that to preserve, nurture, and develop this special relationship, bringing tangible benefits to the people of both countries, the two sides should continue standing shoulder-to-shoulder, stepping up information exchange, sharing experiences, and cooperating across various aspects.

Priority should be given to deepening the political relationship, effectively implementing high-level agreements, maintaining and enhancing the effectiveness of cooperation mechanisms between the two nations, improving dissemination of and education on the traditional ties, and jointly organising celebrations of important anniversaries and events of both parties and countries in the rest of 2024 and especially throughout 2025.

It is necessary to maintain the efficient coordination and implementation of cooperation plans between the two Ministries of Defence and the two Ministries of Public Security, so as to ensure political stability, security, and social order in each country, while stepping up the exchange of delegations, and maximising the effectiveness of the defence dialogue mechanisms and security cooperation.

Chien also stressed the need to well carry out collaboration agreements between the two governments and cooperation programmes between ministries, sectors, and localities to elevate economic cooperation through expanding and upgrading East-West transportation connectivity, establishing integrated cooperation mechanisms and special policies to unlock resources and facilitate investment and business operations for enterprises and people from both countries.

It is also important to improve the quality and effectiveness of investment cooperation, focus on solving outstanding issues in some joint projects, and promote strategic infrastructure connectivity, he stressed.

The diplomat highlighted the importance of placing a high priority on and boosting cooperation in education, training, and human resources development to meet each country's development needs and contribute to cementing solidarity and friendship between the two peoples.

He expressed his belief that Vietnam and Laos will continue to cooperat♈e and develop together, and continuously reinforce and enhance the effectiveness of their great friendship, special solidarity, and comprehensive cooperation, thus helping maintain peace, stability, cooperation, and development in the region and the world at large./.