PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc and his Lao counterpart Thongloun Sisoulith agreed to make joint efforts to further expand the ties towards a stable annual trade value growth rate of 10-15% during their talks on October 1 in Ha Noi. 

PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc and his Lao counterpart Thongloun Sisoulith hold talks,
Ha Noi, October 1, 2019 - Photo: VGP/Quang Hieu 

 At the meeting, the two sides emphasized the vital importance of the Viet Nam-Laos relations of great friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation which they consider an immutable rule and the motive power of the revolutionary cause of each country.

The two leaders consented to enhance delegation exchanges at all levels, promote information exchange and experience sharing on socio-economic development, effectively realize outcomes of the 41st meeting of the inter-Governmental Committee as well as encourage their ministries, agencies and localities to expand relations and support each other in socio-economic development, maintaining peace and order. 

Both the host and the guest expressed their delight on the strong development in cooperation in national defense-security, reaching consensus on coordination to well implement treaties and bilateral agreements on border and territory.

They agreed to ensure the rate of progress and quality of Viet Nam-invested projects in Laos, launch realistic sponsor policies for their enterprises and organize meetings between the Lao leaders and Vietnamese business community operating in Laos. 

The two sides highlighted the importance of cooperation in education-training and human resources development, particularly high-quality human resources in line with strengthening cooperation in culture, people-to-people exchanges and implementation of the agreement on labor cooperation. 

The occasion, the two PMs shared viewpoints on the international and regional situations and the coordination between the two nations in the time ahead, including Viet Nam presiding over ASEAN Chairmanship in 2020 and the non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council in 2020-2021 tenure. 

They affirmed the importance of maintaining peace, stability, the rule of law, security, safety and freedom of navigation and aviation in the East Sea, and of settling the disputes in the East Sea by peaceful measures on the basis of international law, including the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). 

They reiterated the ASEAN’s principled stance on the East Sea which was expressed in recent statements of the grouping, especially the Joint Communiqué of the 52nd ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Bangkok in July, 2019. 

Accordingly, all sides were unanimous in promoting mutual trusts, refrain and prevent activities that complicate the situations, preventing to use force or threat to use force and non-militarization as well as fully and strictly realizing Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC) and soon completing the Code of Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (COC) practically and effectively in line with international laws, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea 1982. 

The two sides committed to joining hands with other country members to boost prosperity, solidarity and reliance of the ASEAN Community, upholding the central role of ASEAN in the regional structure and striving for a rule-based region of peace, stability, cooperation and prosperous development. 

The two PMs witness the signing ceremony and the handover ceremony
of eight cooperative documents in economics, investment, education,
fiancé, banking, energy and aviation.

 After the talks, the two PMs witnessed the signing ceremony and the handover ceremony of eight cooperative documents in economics, investment, education, fiancé, banking, energy and aviation. 

A Joint Declaration on enhancement of great friendship relations, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation in the new situations between the two nations was issued.