Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc suggested Viet Nam and Laos strengthen consultation and mutual support, especially security and strategic issues, in 2020 as the former will assume the role as ASEAN Chair and non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council. 

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc (right) welcomes Lao Minister of Foreign Affairs
Saleumxay Kommasith in Ha Noi on December 26, 2019. Photo: VGP

 Phuc made the suggestion on Thursday morning at his reception for Lao Minister of Foreign Affairs Saleumxay Kommasith who is on an official visit to Viet Nam from December 23-26.

Such consultation and mutual support aim to contribute to maintaining peace and central role of ASEAN amid changing landscape in the region and the world, said the PM.

He also urged ministries, agencies and localities of the two countries to promptly review the implementation of their cooperation plans in 2019 as well as bilateral cooperation agenda for the 2016-2020 period and high-level agreements.

Particularly, Phuc asked the two countries to agree on measures to address obstacles of key projects which have been jointly deployed by the sides.

He took the occasion to express his wish that the Lao PM would soon organize direct dialogue with Vietnamese business community in a bid to ease difficulties against them.

Kommasith congratulated Viet Nam on undertaking the ASEAN Chair in 2020 and non-permanent membership of the United Nations Security Council for the 2020-2021 tenure, reflecting Viet Nam’s position and active and responsible contribution to peace and prosperity in the region and the world.

He affirmed that the Party, State, Government and people of Laos vow to advocate Viet Nam to fulfill the double role.

Earlier on Wednesday, Deputy PM, FM Pham Binh Minh and Lao FM Saleumxay Kommasith co-chaired the 6th Viet Nam-Laos Foreign Ministerial Political Consultation in the northern province of Quang Ninh.

Following the consultation, the two sides signed an action program on cooperation in promoting economic diplomacy work in the 2020-2025 period.