At the meeting (Source: VNA) He made the statement at the 39th meeting of the Vietnam-Laos Inter-Governmental Committee held in Hanoi onFebruary 7-8. This was the first time the PMs of the two countries had co-chairedan Inter-Governmental Committee meeting, demonstrating the two governments’commitment to effectively implementing their cooperation plan for 2017.
PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc urged bothcountries to work closely together to prepare for the 55th anniversaryof bilateral diplomatic ties and the 40th anniversary of the signingof the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation (TAC).
He pledged to drastically directministries, agencies, localities, businesses and relevant units to coordinatewith Lao partners to realise commitments set at the meeting.
Lao Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith,for his part, vowed to cooperate with Vietnam to hold celebrations of the twocountries’ major anniversaries and raise public awareness of the Vietnam-Laosspecial solidarity, especially among young generations.
The two sides expressedsatisfaction at the effective implementation of high-level agreements and dealsbetween ministries, agencies and localities last year. Bilateral ties across political,diplomatic, national defence-security, economic and socio-cultural fields havebeen strengthened and expanded.
Education is a highlight inbilateral cooperation, with more than 14,000 Lao students are pursuing studiesin Vietnam.
Regarding investment partnership,Vietnamese firms have poured nearly 3.7 billion USD into more than 400 projectsin Laos.
A new mechanism to coordinatebilateral cooperation was introduced at the meeting.
Both sides agreed to reinforcepolitical, diplomatic, national defence-security, investment and trade tieswhile expanding coordination in human resources training, transportinfrastructure, and the sustainable use and management of water and naturalresources.
They were determined to workclosely together to hold the Year of Vietnam-Laos Solidarity and Friendship2017, the 55th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic ties and the 40th anniversary of the TAC signing. They also pledged to provide mutual support atregional and global organisations and forums.
Following the meeting, the twoPrime Ministers witnessed the signing of four cooperation documents, includingan agreement on cooperation plan in 2017 between the two governments, theminute of the Vietnam-Laos Inter-Governmental Committee’s 39th meeting, a collaboration plan between the two education ministries, and aminutes on the establishment of a joint-venture to build a 500kV powertransmission line connecting the two countries.
The two PMs later also co-chaireda press conference on the outcomes of the meeting.-VNA
VNA
