Vientiane (VNA) – Vietnam and Laos havehighlighted their great friendship in a joint statement which was issued on theoccasion of the official friendship visit to Laos by General Secretary of theCommunist Party of Vietnam and President Nguyen Phu Trong from February 24-25.

The bilateral great friendship, special solidarity and comprehensivecooperation were founded  by Vietnam’sPresident Ho Chi Minh and Lao Presidents Kaysone Phomvihane and Souphanouvong,and nurtured by generations of Party and State leaders and people of the twocountries.

The relationship has become an invaluable asset shared by the two Parties andnations, and a factor ensuring the existence and development of each country,the statement said.

The two sides agreed to enhance and continuously deepen the political ties, thusorienting the overall cooperation between the two countries.

They will work to promote cooperation in economy, culture, education, healthcare and science-technology on the basis of each side’s potential and strength,and effectively implement high-level agreements, cooperation deals between the twoGovernments, and cooperation programmes and plans between the two countries.

Stressing the the significance of affiliation in national defence and security,both sides concurred to strengthen the partnership for maintaining politicalstability, security, and social order and safety in each country.

The two sides will continue to join hands to build a common border of peace,friendship, stability, cooperation and sustainable development, and repatriate theremains of Vietnamese volunteer soldiers and experts who died in Laos.

They reached consensus on the timely exchange of information, closecoordination and mutual support in regional and international issues.

Vietnam and Laos will step up cooperation and coordination with each other andwith other countries and international organisations concerned in the managementand supervision of all-round impacts of the safe use of the Mekong River waterresources, contributing to ensuring sustainable and effective development, and harmonizinginterests of Mekong River basin countries.

Both sides reiterated thesignificance of maintaining peace, stability, security and safety in the EastSea and their support of ASEAN’s role and principles, and agreed to promote thesettlement of disputes in the East Sea through peaceful measures in line withinternational law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law ofthe Sea (UNCLOS).

They will join hands with relevant sides tofully and effectively implement the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties (DOC)in the East Sea and push for the early conclusion of a practical and effectiveCode of Conduct (COC) in the East Sea, thus contributing to the maintenance ofpeace, security, stability, cooperation and development in the region and theworld at large.-VNA