The Vietnamese and Lao Ministries of Foreign Affairs on December 25 signed an action program on cooperation in promoting economic diplomacy work in the 2020-2025 period. 

Deputy Prime Minister, Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh and Lao Foreign Minister
Saleumxay Kommasith sign an action program on cooperation in promoting economic
diplomacy work in the 2020-2025 period, Quang Ninh Province, December 25, 2019
- Photo: VGP

Lao Foreign Minister Saleumxay Kommasith is paying an official visit to Viet Nam from December 23-27 and co-chairs the sixth Viet Nam-Laos Foreign Ministerial Political Consultation at the invitation of Deputy PM, FM Pham Binh Minh. 

At the sixth Viet Nam-Laos Foreign Ministerial Political Consultation on December 25, the two Ministers discussed and reviewed cooperative contents and proposed orientations for the two nations’ relationship and the two Ministries of Foreign Affairs in the upcoming time. 

The two sides expressed their delight on the outstanding developments in all sectors in the great friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between the two nations, including consolidating the political trust with a number of delegation exchanges and high-level exchanges at all levels. 

Security and defense cooperation continues to be strengthened, making contributions to maintaining security and stability for each nation. 

The two-way trade value was estimated at US$1.1-1.2 billion in 2019, up 12.6% against in 2018 and exceeding the target set by the Governments. 

The two nations have continuously improved the quality and effectiveness of cooperation in education, training and human resource development and enhanced communications among their youth.   

Both sides agreed that the year 2020 is crucial to the two nations as Viet Nam will take over the Chair of ASEAN and the non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council and Laos will chair a number of sub-regional mechanisms such as the CLV, CLMV and ACMECS.  

Deputy PM Minh proposed that the two Foreign Affairs agencies actively promote Viet Nam-Laos relationship more practically while Saleumxay Kommasith suggested enhancing close coordination to boost the effective implementation of the high-ranking agreements as well as crucial bilateral cooperation mechanisms, including the 42nd meeting of the Viet Nam-Laos Inter-Governmental Committee in January 2020 and strengthening consultancy at international and regional forums, especially within the frameworks of ASEAN and the United Nations. 

Deputy Prime Minister, Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh and Lao Foreign Minister
Saleumxay Kommasith co-chair the sixth Viet Nam-Laos Foreign Ministerial
Political Consultation, Quang Ninh Province, December 25, 2019 - Photo: VGP

The two diplomats spoke highly of cooperation between the two agencies on the basis of the cooperative agreement between the two Ministries of Foreign Affairs in the 2014-2020 period and other annual cooperative mechanisms. In 2019, 11 agencies under these two ministries met and exchanged experience.  

Saleumxay Kommasith asked the two ministries to accelerate mutual consultation and close coordination in both of the bilateral relationship and regional strategic issues to serve for the economic development and international integration and sign the new cooperative agreement between the two ministries in the 2021-2026 phase at the political consultation next year. 

The host and the guest highlighted the importance of obeying the international laws and the central role of ASEAN in the regional structure, consenting to continue close coordination at international and regional forums and exchange viewpoints at all levels to improve the international status of each country. 

Laos will do its utmost to support Viet Nam when the country presides over the non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council in 2020-2021 tenure and the ASEAN Chairmanship in 2020, said Saleumxay Kommasith, asserting to join hands at other Greater Mekong Sub-region mechanisms such as the CLV, CLMV and ACMECS and advocate standpoints of ASEAN about regional common security issues.