Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen and Lao Prime Minister Phankham Viphavanh on Tuesday became the first foreign leaders to call Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh to convey their wishes for the success to the Vietnamese Government chief.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh. Photo: VGP

On Monday, the two foreign leaders cabled messages of congratulations to Chinh after he was elected as new Prime Minister of Viet Nam.

Lao PM Phankham Viphavanh expressed his belief that PM Chinh will successfully fulfill his duties entrusted to him by the Vietnamese Party, State and people.

Chinh said he wishes to work closely with the Lao PM to further consolidate and develop the great friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between Viet Nam and Laos.

The two PMs were pleased as both countries have sustained bilateral cooperation amid the COVID-19 pandemic, and agreed to tighten collaboration to respond to common challenges and mobilize international resources for each country’s socio-economic development as well as for bilateral cooperation.  

Both sides pledged to work to improve the efficiency of coordination between the two Governments and to well implement the high-level agreements and outcomes reached at the 43rd meeting of the Viet Nam-Laos Inter-governmental Committee.

They agreed to enhance the efficiency of bilateral cooperation across the fields, from defense and security, trade and investment, transport, to education and training, people-to-people exchange and local-to-local partnership.

The pair agreed to foster coordination and mutual support at multilateral forums, especially ASEAN and the Greater Mekong Sub-region frameworks.

The two PMs agreed to work together to organize activities to mark the 60th anniversary of Viet Nam-Laos diplomatic relations and 45th anniversary of the two countries’ friendship and amity treaty in 2022.

PM Chinh extended his warm greetings to Lao leaders and people on the occasion of their traditional Bunpimay festival.

Cambodian PM Hun Sen expressed his belief that under the leadership of PM Chinh, the Government and people of Viet Nam will continue gaining greater development achievements and heightening its role and position in the region and the world.

PM Chinh affirmed his wish to work closely with PM Hun Sen to sustainably and effectively maintain the development of the sound neighborliness, traditional friendship, and comprehensive cooperation between the two countries and the two Governments.

The two PMs spoke highly of the two countries’ efforts in maintaining cooperation pace amid the COVID-19 pandemic, and agreed to coordinate closely in realizing the high-level agreements reached between the two countries’ leaders while strengthening defense-security ties and the effectiveness of border management to prevent spread of the disease and facilitate flow of goods through border gates.

Both sides agreed to enhance collaboration at multilateral forums and work with other ASEAN member States to promote ASEAN solidarity and centrality.

Chinh voiced support for Cambodia to successfully host the 7th Greater Mekong Sub-region Summit and the 13th Asia-Europe Meeting Summit in 2021.

The Vietnamese PM extended greetings to the Cambodian leaders and people on their traditional new year festival./.