Hanoi (VNA) – Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc andhis visiting Lao counterpart Thongloun Sisoulith reaffirmed the importance of therelation of great friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation betweenVietnam and Laos during their talks in Hanoi on October 1. 

The talks took place following the official welcome ceremonyin the afternoon the same day.

Both sides agreed to facilitate all-level visits via theParty, State, Government and National Assembly channels, enhance the sharing ofexperience in socio-economic development in each country, effectively realisethe outcomes of the 41st meeting of the Vietnam - LaosInter-Governmental Committee, and encourage the two countries’ ministries,agencies and localities to expand ties.

They vowed to continue implementing border treaties andagreements, promptly preventing border violations, fighting trans-border crimesand stepping up the signing of agreements on national defence and security.

A conference reviewing the effectiveness of the one-stopshop model at Lao Bao – Densavan international border gates, and a conferencereviewing the implementation of the 2019 agreement on the settlement ofirregular migration and undocumented marriages in border areas will also beheld.

The two countries will continue working to raise two-waytrade by 10 – 15 percent annually, effectively implement trade agreements, soonsign a memorandum of understanding on border trade infrastructure developmentand connectivity, and popularise tax and trade incentives.

The two leaders pledged to take effective measures to ensurethe progress and quality of Vietnamese projects in Laos, and hold moreexchanges between leaders of the Lao government and the Vietnamese businesscommunity in Laos.

The two PMs highlighted the importance of education –training cooperation and high-quality human resources development, adding thehistory of Vietnam – Laos special ties into curricula in the two countries’schools, increasing cultural and people-to-people exchanges and wellimplementing the labour cooperation agreement.

The Lao PM committed to simplifying procedures and reducingcosts related to the grant of permits to Vietnamese workers.

The two leaders took the occasion to share various commonassessments of the regional and international situation, as well as thecoordination between the two countries in the time to come, including Vietnam’sshouldering the role of the ASEAN Chair in 2020 and a non-permanent member ofthe United Nations Security Council for the 2020-2021 term.

On regional and global issues of shared concern, theyaffirmed the significance of maintaining peace, stability, law abidance,maritime and aviation safety and freedom, the settlement of disputes in theEast Sea by peaceful means in line with international law, particularly the1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

They reaffirmed the ASEAN’s stance on the East Sea issuementioned in the bloc’s recent declarations, especially the joint communiqué atthe 52nd ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Bangkok in July, accordingto which the parties consented to strengthen mutual trust, exercise self-restraintand avoid actions that could further complicate the situation, refrain from theuse of force or threat to use force, prevent militarisation, fully andseriously implement the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea(DOC), towards soon reaching a practical and effective Code of Conduct in theEast Sea (COC) in accordance with international law, including the 1982 UNCLOS.

The two sides pledged to continue working with member statesto step up prosperity, solidarity and self-resilience of the ASEAN Community,uphold ASEAN’s central role in regional architecture towards a region of peace,stability, cooperation and prosperity based on rules.

Following the talks, the two PMs witnessed the signing ofeight cooperation agreements in the fields of economy, investment, education,finance, banking, energy and aviation.

The two sides issued a joint declaration on thestrengthening of Vietnam – Laos relations of great friendship, special solidarityand comprehensive cooperation in the new situation.

The Lao leader will stay in Vietnam till October 3./.