At a bilateral meeting in Vientiane on Monday, the two leaders noted that the two countries have demonstrated an unchangeable commitment to help each other in national development as this has been proved with concrete outcomes of bilateral cooperation, especially in politics, security, external affairs, economic and trade, investment, science and technology, education, and social and cultural areas.

Party Secretary General and President Thongloun Sisoulith and Vietnam’s President Nguyen Xuan Phuc pledged to work together to promote cooperation between Laos and Vietnam through continuing the exchange of delegations at all levels and promoting the implementation of the documents signed by the leaders of the two countries.

Both leaders expressed their commitment to continue strengthening cooperation on national defence and public security to ensure the two neighbours can cope with new challenges.

Secretary General and President Thongloun Sisoulith expressed thanks to the Vietnamese President for choosing the Lao PDR for his first overseas visit noting that his visit demonstrated the attention the Party, State and people of Vietnam pay to the great friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between Laos and Vietnam, extending the goodwill, friendship, close solidarity of the Party, State and people of Vietnam to the Party, State and people of Laos thus giving the Lao PDR encouragement to continue to cope with difficulties it is facing and enhancing the special fraternal relations.

The top leader of the Lao PDR expressed sincere gratitude for the assistance the Party, State and people of Vietnam have extended to the Lao PDR to support infrastructure development, training, emergency assistance noting that such assistance bears material and spiritual value to the Lao people.

The host also expressed gratitude to the Party, State and people of Vietnam for dispatching in a prompt and effective manner doctors, experts and medical equipment to Laos to support its fight against Covid-19.

Both host and guest agreed to urge relevant ministries and agencies of the two countries to attach attention to strengthening cooperation on projects related to infrastructural integration, tourism, energy, clean agriculture noting that these areas are potential in their respective countries and are likely to become a fundamental foundation for their regional integration efforts and an economic driving force of the two countries in the future.

These include Vientiane-Hanoi express way project, Road No. 8 upgrading project, Vientiane-Vung Ang Railway project, a potassium mining and processing project, Vung Ang Port project, Nongkhang Airport project, and an electricity trade project.

The two leaders also agreed to celebrate 2022 as Laos-Vietnam Friendship and Solidarity Year, the 60^th anniversary of Laos-Vietnam diplomatic ties, and the 45^th anniversary of Laos-Vietnam Treaty of Amity and Cooperation.

Both sides also pledged to continue to support each other in contributing to the protection of regional and international peace, stability and prosperity.

The two leaders also witnessed the signing of 14 cooperation documents between the two countries’ ministries, sectors and enterprises in the fields of defence, security, drug prevention and control, search and rescue, electricity trading, and mineral exploration, exploitation and processing.

KPL