(KPL/VNA) Vietnamese Minister of Justice Nguyen Hai Ninh and his Lao counterpart Phayvy Sibualipha co-chaired the 6th expanded judicial conference of Vietnamese and Lao border provinces in Vientiane on December 19.

Ninh highlighted the fruitful judicial cooperation between Vietnam and Laos after more than 40 years since the signing of the bilateral agreement on legal and judicial cooperation, with diverse collaboration contents at both central and local levels, considerably contributing to socio-economic development in both countries.

He noted that to date, the provincial justice departments from 24 pairs of localities of the two countries, including 10 pairs of border provinces and six twinned provinces and cities, have signed cooperation agreements. Many of these deals, including civil registration, nationality services, legal aid, and grassroots mediation, have significantly improved the lives of residents along the shared border, including Lao citizens.

The conference offered a chance for the two sides to enhance the quality of legal activities, helping promote socio-economic development and ensure defence-security in each country, while vividly demonstrating the great friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and Laos.

At the event, participants sought solutions to address legal challenges faced by border communities. They emphasised ensuring compliance with laws, supporting livelihoods, and protecting the rights and interests of residents on both sides of the border.

The same day, the Vietnamese Ministry of Justice's delegation visited the new headquarters of the Lao Ministry of Justice, and presented the ministry with 20 sets of computers and gifted the departments of justice of Lao localities with five others.

KPL