Vietnamese, Lao PMs meet ahead of ASEAN Summits

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh (left) and his Lao counterpart Sonexay Siphandone (Photo: VNA)

PM Chinh affirmed that Vietnam highly values and gives top priority to its great relations, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation with Laos, and remains committed to nurturing and advancing the Vietnam-Laos relationship toward sustainable and deeper development.

Stressing that the Vietnam-Laos relationship is now the most robust and trustworthy, with increasingly effective economic and trade ties, closer national defence-security, cultural and tourism exchanges, and more substantive locality-to-locality partnerships, he noted that this meeting provided an invaluable opportunity for both PMs to discuss specific measures to realise the directives set forth by the two Politburos at their meeting nearly a month ago.

In the time ahead, both sides need to continue fostering effective cooperation in digital transformation, green transition, circular economy, agriculture, hi-tech livestock farming, and food security while training quality workforce and preserving historical sites that symbolise the unique Vietnam-Laos solidarity, he said, wishing that Laos would continue facilitating Vietnamese business operations there.

Impressed by Laos' thorough preparations for the ASEAN Summits, the Vietnamese PM praised Laos' leadership role as ASEAN Chair in 2024. He expressed his desire for Vietnam and Laos to strengthen their collaboration, along with other ASEAN member states, to maintain and reinforce ASEAN's unity and consensus, ensuring a unified stance on regional issues.

Vietnam is ready to work closely with Laos and other countries to ensure the success of the ASEAN Summit scheduled for October 9 and the 45th General Assembly of ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA-45) slated for 10 days later, contributing to elevating Laos's standing and ASEAN solidarity, he said.

In response, PM Siphandone highlighted the mutual support that has characterised the Vietnam-Laos relationship, particularly in their recent efforts to mitigate the impacts of natural disasters. He assured that the Lao Government would collaborate closely with Vietnam to ensure the success of Vietnamese investment projects in Laos.

Looking ahead, both PMs agreed on the importance of closely coordinating to effectively realise high-level agreements between the two countries, including the outcomes of the recent meeting between the two Politburos. They called for continuing with the exchange of delegations at various levels to further foster their special and close political trust; ensure public security, order, and safety; bolstering national defence-security collaboration, and deepening economic connectivity, with a focus on infrastructure, transportation, investment and tourism.

Amid a complex and rapidly changing global landscape filled with both challenges and opportunities, both leaders underlined the enduring value of Vietnam-Laos and Vietnam-Laos-Cambodia solidarity. They reached consensus on continuing to work closely with Cambodia to develop their trilateral cooperation in a more substantive and effective manner, ensuring that it meets the practical needs of all the three countries and aligns with their development priorities in this new era./.