Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh (right) and Lao Prime Minister Phankham Viphavanh before co-chairing the 44th meeting of the Viet Nam-Laos Inter-governmental Committee, Ha Noi, January 10, 2022. Photo: VGP

The meeting was co-chaired by Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and his Lao counterpart Phankham Viphavanh who is on three-day visit to Viet Nam.

Pham underlined that both countries have managed to maintain the exchange of delegations and contacts and growth momentum of bilateral cooperation across fields amid complicated and unpredictable developments in the region and the world, particularly the negative impacts posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, adding that this is indicative of both sides’ resolve to strengthen the bilateral special ties.

Phankham, for his part, spoke highly of Viet Nam’s success in COVID-19 containment and socio-economic development, expressing thanks to the Party, State and people of Viet Nam for their timely assistance for Laos’ COVID-19 fight.

The two PMs agreed on a range of measures to further deepen politic-diplomatic relations and defense and security cooperation, and continue giving special priority to education and training cooperation between the two countries.

The pair also vowed to enhance economic connectivity, especially in such areas like transport, infrastructure, and telecommunication.

Both sides also agreed to strengthen consultation and mutual support over regional security issues, including the East Sea, affirming their high consensus for ASEAN’s principled positions on the East Sea stated in the bloc’s Joint Statement./.