Hanoi (VNA) – The official visitto Vietnam by Lao Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith from October 1 to 3 is setto give a further boost to the two countries’ traditional friendship, specialsolidarity and comprehensive cooperation.

Closely-knitrelations

Vietnam and Laos boast a long-standing specialsolidarity and faithful relationship nurtured by late Presidents Ho Chi Minh,Kaysone Phomvihane and Souphanouvong, and generations of the two countries’leaders and peoples.

Over the past years, the two sides have beenunceasingly consolidating and developing the great friendship, specialsolidarity and comprehensive cooperation between the two Parties, States andpeoples, considering these as important factors of the success of eachcountry’s national development and defence.

Bilateral political and diplomatic ties havecontinued to be reinforced, as seen through mutual visits at all levels. By theend of August, the countries had exchanged more than 120 delegations, about 60of which were at the deputy ministerial or higher levels.

Vietnamese leaders who visited Laos recentlyinclude Party General Secretary and State President Nguyen Phu Trong (February24 – 25), and National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan (September 26 –29). Meanwhile, top leaders of Laos have also paid visits to Vietnam such asParty General Secretary and State President Bounnhang Vorachith (August 9 –12), National Assembly Chairwoman Pany Yathotou (March 4 – 8), and PM ThonglounSisoulith (May 31 – June 1).

Cooperation in defence, security and diplomacyhas continued to record new developments. The two countries have activelyimplemented the five-year cooperation protocol and annual defence – securitycooperation plans, helping to ensure political stability, security and socialorder and safety in each nation. They have also effectively carried out theagreement on border regulations and the one on settling irregular migration andundocumented marriage in their border areas.

Additionally, both sides have continued workingtogether to search for and repatriate the remains of Vietnam’s volunteersoldiers and experts who laid down their lives in Laos during wartime. In the2017 – 2018 dry season, 233 sets of remains were repatriated from Laos.

The countries have also coordinated closely andsupported each other at regional and international forums. They have furtherenhanced cooperation with each other and other ASEAN members in building theASEAN Community and maintaining the bloc’s solidarity and consensus in thestrategic issues of the region, including the East Sea issue.

Laos strongly supported Vietnam’s bid for anon-permanent seat in the UN Security Council and holding of the ASEAN Chairmanshipin 2020.

Both have coordinated closely with other nationsand relevant international organisations to manage and use the Mekong River’swater resources in a sustainable and effective manner.

Increasinglysubstantive partnerships

Progress has been recorded in bilateralrelations in economy, culture, education – training and science – technique.

Trade between Vietnam and Laos topped 1 billionUSD in 2018 and reached 748 million USD in the first eight months of 2019, up14.2 percent year on year. The new trade agreement and the cross-border tradedeal are being implemented actively with the aim of sustaining the annual tradegrowth rate at 10 percent at least.

Vietnam remains the third largest foreigninvestor in Laos. According to the Lao Ministry of Planning and Investment, byJune 2019, Vietnamese businesses had invested 4.22 billion USD in 411 projectsin Laos, mainly on hydropower, mining, services, agriculture and telecom.

Besides, cooperation in education – training andculture has continued to receive attention. The two sides have effectivelyimplemented the project on improving the quality and effectiveness of bilateralties in education and human resources development for 2011 – 2020.

In 2018, Vietnam provided 1,271 scholarships forLaos, up 271 from the two governments’ decision, and Laos gave 60 scholarshipsfor Vietnam. There are 14,656 Lao students in Vietnam, which also has 260students in Laos at present.

Vietnam has opened 24 short-term refreshercourses for 497 Lao cadres in different fields and sent teachers of Vietnameselanguage to 28 educational establishments across Laos.

Cultural exchange and tourism promotionactivities have also been stepped up at all levels, helping to deepen mutualunderstanding between the two peoples.

Additionally, links between Vietnamese and Laolocalities, especially the border ones, have been further strengthened,including in infrastructure building, health care, human resources development,and border security ensuring.

The two sides have created more favourableconditions for the Vietnamese and Lao communities in the other country.Associations of Vietnamese people have been set up in 12 of the 18 provincesand cities of Laos so far./.