PM Nguyen Tan Dung (R) and his Lao counterpart Thongsing Thammavong, Ha Noi, March 16, 2016 – Photo: VGP/Nhat Bac

PM Dung warmly welcomed the vast and comprehensive achievements Laos attained in the five-year socio-economic development plan (2011-2015) and wished for the success of the National Assembly election scheduled for March, 2016.

Lao PM Thongsing Thammavong lauded the socio-economic achievements made by the Vietnamese Government and people and wished that Viet Nam will successfully realize the resolution adopted at the 12th Party Congress.

The two sides extoled the accomplishments of the Viet Nam-Laos Cooperation Agreement for the 2011-2015 period as contributing to nurturing the traditional friendship, special solidarity, and comprehensive cooperation.

They agreed to give a priority to unceasingly cementing and deepening the traditional ties, regarding this as a valuable asset for respective revolutionary causes.

Both sides approved the deployment of reached agreements at the 38th session of the Viet Nam-Laos Inter-Governmental Committee (December, 2015) especially the Cooperative Plan of the two Governments in 2016 and the bilateral cooperative agreement in 2016-2020.

The two PMs were unanimous in boosting exchanges of delegations at all levels and fruitful grassroots cooperation.

 They also agreed to review Viet Nam’s investment projects in Laos; effectively realize the Viet Nam-Laos Trade Agreement and the Trade Border Agreement; strive for US$3 billion trade turnover by 2020; beef up connectivity by implementing the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on the strategic agreement on cooperation in transport for 2016-2025, with a vision towards 2030.

The two sides hailed the successful conclusion of the project on on increasing and upgrading border markers and agreed to work together to build a borderline of peace, stability, cooperation, and development.

They also reached consensus on ASEAN cooperation and its central role in regional strategic issues, including the East Sea issue./.

By Kim Loan